Farmers Market Season

"If it grows together, it goes together." Joshua McFadden of Six Seasons cookbook

This quote refers to eating seasonally and considering how to pair and cook these foods each season. One of those beautiful, back to basics, listen to nature kind of ideas.

Every year I look forward to the summer for two reasons, family beach trip and delicious produce. It can sometimes seem like a slow start with greens, potatoes, onions, and berries until about June. But July in Virginia is heaven with tomatoes, melons, peaches, plums, cherries and green beans. This is the time to go to that market you have been talking about for months and try something new. Find your favorite farm, learn about local soil, diversify your gut bacteria. Let the time of year tell you what’s for dinner. Thank the hard working business owners you meet!

You frequently hear words like “local”, “seasonal”, “organic”, “natural” and wonder their meaning and if you should be considering them for yourself. The answer is yes! I realize time, cost and access are all important factors. I am not saying you need to buy only local, organic and seasonal all the time, but it is important for you to ask questions and understand the impact of the food you buy. CSA's have also become very popular and allow more people to gain access to these farms and small businesses.

The Food Safety Modernization Act defines local as within 275 miles or the same state.

Check out this website for resources to find what’s in season and where to go in the area. https://rictoday.6amcity.com/city-guide/live/farmers-markets-richmond-va

Here are a few reasons why local is a smart choice:

1. Eating locally and seasonally could reduce the amount of fossil fuels and energy needed to transport and store the food after harvest.

2. Transparency, which allows the customer to get a much closer look at how their food is grown, delivered, handled, packaged, etc. Often times farms are organic and have just chosen not to pay for the USDA stamp.

3. Buying from your local market, supports the local economy and the individuals willing to put in the time and effort.

4. You could end up trying a new fruit or vegetable variety.

5. The produce is picked at peak ripeness making the nutritional value greater and flavor richer.

6. If local AND organic, the surrounding soil remains fertile, the water stays clean and animals feel free and welcome to roam the land. Mass food production can produce harmful effects on the environment and surrounding wildlife.

7. Establishing farmer’s markets throughout the city drastically improves food access for all neighborhoods. Spending a Saturday morning helping with harvest could mean you go home with a box full of veggies!

   
   

Most importantly, walking through a farmer’s market on a Sunday morning, eating a bagel, chatting with friends is just a nice tradition! You may even come across a cooking demo, cheese sampling or nutrition lesson.

2025 number of markets offered in the USDA Directory is up to 12,404. https://www.usdalocalfoodportal.com/fe/fdirectory_agritourism/?source=fe&directory=agritourism&location=&x=&y=