The following are 9 worthwhile reasons to shop at a farmer’s market!
Can you think of anymore? If so, let me know!

1. Supporting your local farmers!
   When you buy food directly from the farmer they get 100% of the money you give them. When a farmer sells their goods to a grocery store and the grocery store sells that food to you, the farmer sees a very small percent of the money you spend on their food. Thus, shopping at the farmer’s market directly supports your local farmers.
2. Better tasting food!
   Food you buy at a farmer’s market often tastes better than foods you buy in a grocery store. Part of this is because, for the most part, the produce at a grocery store has been trucked there across hundreds, sometimes thousands, of miles. It was harvested days, weeks or even months previous to your purchase and often in an entirely different country (Mexico, Chile, Argentina, etc.) or even on an entirely different continent (Australia, New Zealand, China, etc.). Just imagine how long it would take YOU to get to any of those places, and how tired YOU would be when you got there. Now imagine you are a piece of fruit or a vegetable! You probably wouldn’t taste your best after that kind of experience either!
   Small scale, local farmers are able to select the foods they grow based on their taste. Large scale, global farmers must grow foods that can tolerate the rough handling and harsh conditions experienced during long distance travel. Foods that are grown for their endurance and aesthetics are often less flavorful than foods grown for their taste qualities.
3. Higher quality produce!
   Produce purchased at a farmer’s market is usually of a higher quality than produce found in a big chain grocery store. Small local farmers often spend more time and energy making sure the foods they bring to the market are of the highest quality they can offer. This is because it reflects directly on them if you purchase a product from them and are dissatisfied with it. Farmers that sell large scale to big grocery stores are not held directly responsible by the consumer for a low quality or disappointing product. Additionally, small scale farmers tend to put more time into harvesting higher quality produce. While large scale farmers are often more concerned with the quantity of their harvest than the quality.
4. Fresher foods!
   Vegetables, cheese, bread and many other products found at a farmers market are fresh in the true sense of the word. They aren’t just fresh as opposed to frozen, canned or cooked as is the definition of “fresh” the grocery stores employ.Farmer’s market foods are “fresh” because they were harvested the day before (produce), baked the same day (bread), or made that week (cheese). Most foods at a farmer’s market have been recently harvested, come from a distance that’s usually not more than 60 miles, and have not sat around for days, or weeks in a supermarket display.
5. Increased variety and diversity of foods! The local farmer selling to you at your farmer’s market can grow a wide variety of foods. Farmers that supply large grocery stores can only produce/grow food that can endure the harsh conditions of long distance travel. This is why we see such a limited variety of apples, potatoes, cucumbers, garlic, and other produce.When you are at a farmer’s market you’ll see varieties of produce you would never have imagined (like purple potatoes, or apples that are red inside!). A small farmer is actually encouraged by nature to plant a variety of types of food to diversify their crops. This is beneficial, for instance, in the case that one type of garlic being grown gets a fungus, the farmer is insured by having a different type of garlic that might be better suited to protecting itself from that fungus.Additionally, consumers at a farmer’s market are often encouraging farmers to grow new and unique food items because they are fun to try and cook with. Whereas large scale farmers are encouraged by their customers and store owners to manufacture produce that is familiar, easily recognizable and uniform in shape and size. This discourages them from experimenting with varieties of foods that people wouldn’t recognize or know what to do with.
6. Direct relationship with the people growing your food!
   When you shop at a farmer’s market it is very likely that you will be purchasing your food directly from the person who grew it. If it’s not the farm owner herself, it’s an intern or a farm employee who is “manning” the market stand.This direct contact gives you an opportunity to ask the farmers questions about the foods you are purchasing. Because you are in direct contact with the farmers you can make suggestions about different kinds of foods you’d like to see them grow, ask them what to do with a particular food you’ve never seen before, and give them feedback about your experience with their products.Having direct contact with their customers gives the farmers an opportunity to inform you about any challenges they are facing, be them political, financial or ecological. When you connect with farmers or their interns directly you form a relationship that is mutually fulfilling and informative. 
7. Strengthens relationships within the community!
   If you are a regular customer at a farmer’s market you will start to run into other regular customers. You might make a new friend, or a work-related connection. You might exchange recipes with fellow shoppers or learn about how easy it is to grow your own lettuce and vegetables. The environment at a farmer’s market is often very friendly and inviting and ripe for making new connections, strengthening old relationships and meeting new people.
8. It’s fun!
   It can be fun to see all the different, colorful, fresh and beautiful foods farmers are growing and displaying at a farmer’s market. There are often vendors selling treats, meals or drinks to be enjoyed as you peruse the market. It is also common to find people playing music, or providing street performances. Farmer’s markets attract families and little kids and people enjoying the outdoors and their communities. It’s often a very friendly place where you never know who you’ll meet, or see or what new food or treat you’ll discover!
9. It feels good! When you think of all the ways you are supporting your local economy and farmers, strengthening local food security, vitalizing your community, and enhancing the health of you and your family, you can’t help but feel good. There are few guarantees in life, but I’ve also rarely ever come back from shopping at the farmer’s market and found myself in a foul mood. It’s often quite the contrary. I return from the farmer’s market inspired to use my recently procured food booty to make something delicious to put into my body or share with my friends!