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Why We Should All Shop at Farmers Markets

September 21, 2021

Before I became a research and development chef, I worked as a farmer for many years. In addition to cultivating produce, connecting with other people about food is how I fell in love with cooking. There are few places on earth better to connect with others about what and how we eat than a farmers market. 

Here are just a few of the many reasons to stop at your local farmers market.

Say Goodbye to the Middleman

Farmers markets are a critical part of the food economy. They offer the opportunity for farmers and artisans to sell product direct to the consumer without a middleman or high upfront costs (like a brick and mortar store). This means that money from those direct sales go right back to the producer, making food production more profitable. 

Discover the Wonders of Seasonal & Local Food

The food purchased at farmers markets is seasonal and has traveled a shorter distance than most of our food. Most food travels over 1,500 miles to land on a dinner plate!1 Shopping local and in season helps to cut down on consumption of fossil fuels and puts money directly into the local economy. Seasonal food availability varies by location, and shopping in season at markets means you can discover flavors and food native or associated to the area.

I live in Chicago, and here we have a wonderful, seemingly tropical fruit called pawpaw. Pawpaw is a custard apple native to Illinois—it has a rich and creamy inside that tastes similar to mangos and bananas. Before I was growing and selling produce, I had never heard of such a thing, but now it’s at the top of my list of favorites!  
Check Out Farmers Market Favorites from Our Staff!

Deepen Your Connections  

Another reason to shop at farmers markets is because it drives connection between people through food. Chatting with fellow shoppers or farmers has helped me be more creative in the kitchen. I’ve created lifetime friendships with others because of a shared love for a certain kind of produce (like Long Island cheese pumpkins) or because of a shared sadness when a favorite peach producer lost all of her donut peaches to an early frost.  

Farmers markets offer the opportunity to engage with food and community in a unique way. While they can seem intimidating at first, I challenge you to go and chat with a farmer, learn what is in season, ask what their favorite thing to eat that they grow. I can guarantee you will leave with a brain full of fun food ideas, a basket heavy with produce and a deeper sense of connection to your food.

1. CUESA, "How Far Does Your Food Travel to Get to Your Plate?", retrieved from https://cuesa.org/learn/how-far-does-your-food-travel-get-your-plate

Renée Howarth
Senior Research & Development Chef

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