Sarah Boren: Friend of Food | Local Secret, Hidden Gem!

It’s the start of a new year, and while there are to be many great changes ahead, you don’t have to wait for someone else to help bring some of those changes about. There are a few things you can change in your own life that can have a beneficial impact on your economy as well as your own personal well being.

So as your food advisor, I propose that you try something new. Almost every town, and at the very least each county, holds a farmer’s market. Some of these run year round and some only run through the late spring and early fall months. Information about when and where local farmer’s markets are taking place can be found quite easily by searching “farmer’s market” on Google.

Now I’m sure you’re asking me why you should go to the farmer’s market. What can you find there that you can’t get just as easily at your local grocery store? Well, to begin with, they are the easiest way to get the absolute freshest produce possible. Most of the fruits and vegetables being sold at a farmer’s market were either picked the day before or earlier that morning. If you’ve never experienced truly fresh food, that should be reason enough for you to check one out. The majority of the growers often have samples of their produce for you to try, which is especially nice if they carry a type of fruit or vegetable you have never tasted before. Something you didn’t even know existed could turn out to be something you love!

For the most part, they are selling things at a discounted rate from what you will find in a grocery store. (And who can turn that down these days?) Furthermore, most of the people who are actually selling the produce to the general public are also the ones who grow the food. Meaning that they have a great knowledge of everything they sell. They can show you how to pick out the product that will be best suited for your particular application. Don’t be afraid to ask them questions!

As a result of venturing out to your local farmer’s market, you will not only have the opportunity to get some really fresh food (that also happens to be good for you), but you are also supporting your local economy. You will be keeping your neighborhood farmers from going out of business while sustaining your produce needs. It’s also a great little adventure for the whole family or with a group of friends.

To top it all off, a number of farmer’s markets also provide free (often live) entertainment while you browse around!

Here's an excellent website LocalHarvest.org, it'll help you find the farmer's market closest to you, but there is also tons of information about great food, it's many uses and so much more. Happy shopping and eating!

____________________

::Sarah Boren resides in Fairfield, California and is a graduate of the California Culinary Academy; and Food Editor at JarrettHill.com.

::Follow Sarah on Twitter @iluvtremonti28

:Farmer's market photo courtesy: myinwood.net