Remember when I went on my rant against the phrase clean eating? Well another phrase I hear often is shopping local / eat local / etc. But this one is a phrase that I actually love! I am a big fan of supporting local businesses and that extends to my food choices. I’m lucky enough to have a great farmer’s market that is in operation April – December just a few blocks from our home. I love my Saturday morning routine: wake up and get my run in, head home and pick up Sasha and we walk over and explore the farmer’s market. I think that shopping local is one of the best things you can do to live a healthy lifestyle and really support your community.
Three ways shopping local benefits you:
- Shopping local helps connect you with your community. The farmer’s market is a meeting place and each week, Sasha and I (K is usually out playing basketball or working) enjoy seeing our neighbors and friends as we all oogle the delicious produce with our coffees in hand.
- Shopping local provides your family with delicious and fresh food…and you know exactly where it came from. I love knowing that the produce I’m buying was picked either that morning or the evening before. You just can’t get the same quality of freshness at the grocery store and honestly, after eating food that is fresh from the farm, it’s hard to go back to store bought.
- Shopping local at the farmer’s market allows you to learn more about growing seasons and to appreciate the hard work of farmers. I love talking with the farmers who come each week and hearing about how their crops did over the winter and what they are seeing. I’m learning more about what’s in season when (for example, I know now that strawberries have a pretty short season and if I actually want to get them at their peak, I need to pay special attention to farms over the next couple of weeks). I’ve also decided that I’m going to stock up on my favorite fresh berries and freeze some for this upcoming fall / winter when they are not in season.
As you can tell, I’m a big believer in shopping local and love exploring farmer’s markets in my area. I also love going out to farms during the summer / fall and picking my own produce. Look for a post recounting my berry picking adventures later this summer!
Do you have a farmer’s market in your area? Do you frequent it?
We have a farmers market literally outside my front door every Sunday. I’ve only been a few times, but really need to go more but I find that the prices are so much more expensive which is something that holds me back unfortunately. I think I’m going to take the boys strawberry picking this weekend though!
oh, really? i get great deals at my farmer’s market. that’s too bad!
oh – where are you taking them?
I go to the one in Dupont Circle from time to time. You need to take me to your neighborhood market!
Mar @ Mar on the Run recently posted…Weekend Update: Learning the Fundamentals
i used to go to dupont circle when i lived in adams morgan but MAN is it crowded. there is a saturday u street market that i started going to instead when i still lived over that way. 🙂 and yes, anytime! i go just about every saturday!
we have a farmers market in my town! It’s actually very well known in south jersey! We are super lucky that it’s only .75 of a mile walk down from my house! We buy a lot of produceand fish from there!
Hollie recently posted…Dennis Sherpa 5k (20:15)
NICE! i’m not sure if i ever mentioned this, but both my parents are from south jersey and we ALWAYS stop at a farmer’s market on our way out of town. people don’t understand how south jersey is mainly farmland!!
The best Farmer’s market I’ve been to was the one in San Luis Obispo when I went to college there. Every Thursday, rain or shine, they were there! It was in our downtown and they had all sorts of cool stuff too. Not only did I love the fresh fruits and veggies but I loved getting a fresh flower bouquet every week.
Daisy @ Fit Wanderlust Runner recently posted…Lesson Learned: Believe in Yourself!
oh yes, i love the flowers as well 🙂
Courtney, we do have a farmer’s market (two, actually) and I enjoy seeing all of the fresh food, talking with the vendors and there is one particular vendor that brings the most beautiful flowers; those are sort of a treat, so I don’t get them often, but it’s nice to have fresh flowers!
Tara @ Running ‘N’ Reading recently posted…Training Recap
nice! i love my little saturday tradition!
There’s one farmer’s market near me that’s open year round, but we’re just now starting to get the produce sellers back. I’m jealous of places that have longer growing seasons. It always seems like it ends so quickly here.
Fiona @ Get Fit Fiona recently posted…Vancouver Trip – What I Ate
Our season for certain items ends super quickly as well!
I love farmer’s markets! There was a small one where I used to live in Indiana and they sold more products than fresh produce, so I’m excited about having lots of farmer’s markets and year-round seafood markets in Seattle now. Running, coffee, and a farmer’s market sounds like the perfect Saturday morning 🙂
Laura @ This Runner’s Recipes recently posted…Our Trip Westward: Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and Washington
Oh yes, Seattle has great markets! Enjoy 🙂
We have a great Farmer’s Market nearby, but we also have a garden and grow lots of herbs and many vegetables. There is nothing like fresh produce in the summer. I also like to support local businesses like you!
Pam and Christine recently posted…Tinkerbell 10k race recap and a shiny new PR
I’m growing basil, rosemary, thyme and lavender this summer. But no veggies!
I also really love eating at local restaurants over chains because I feel like I am supporting local.
Abby @ BackAtSquareZero recently posted…RACE THE LANDING 5K SERIES #2 – 2015
yes, me too. but sometimes i just need those fries from chili’s 🙂
I love going to the Farmer’s Market!!! I also love photographing items when I’m there. I get to satisfy both of my loves! 🙂
Amy @ Running on Faith and Coffee recently posted…2015 Marion Arts Festival Half Marathon Recap
haha, YES! i’m working on taking better pictures – farmer’s market is perfect practice!