Urban Ecoist

I found it somewhat depressing today when I checked out a local farmers’ market schedule. I am lucky enough to live in a city where it seems every neighborhood has its own market, but I am not lucky enough to live in an area with plentiful year-round markets. No matter, as I urge you today to get out there and get some fresh local veggies and fruits before the farmers market “season” ends.

But for the most part, it is late spring and summer in which farmers markets offer the most, both in variety and quantity. But don’t let fall’s cooler days and nights fool you. Many veggies are just coming into season now. Pumpkins are obvious, sure, but think apples, squash (butternut and acorn), brussel sprouts, mushrooms, sweet potatoes, garlic and pears, and trust me, tomatoes are still coming into their own. Seriously, fall is a great time of the year. Which makes me sad that so many farmers markets tend to shut down by mid-October.

Not familiar with farmers markets? Be prepared for a lot of strollers and dogs, slow people, and unfortunate fashions, but also for fresh produce, flowers, meats from local farms, cheeses, baked goods, honey, jellies and preserves, salsas, and all kinds of that grandmotherly stuff that a “tourist” would buy. Not that farmers markets are tourist hotspots, but rather i mean those first-time visitors to the market.

And I am not being mean when I call them tourists…Everyone should check out a farmers market. It’s a great way to support your local economy rather than Monsanto or Cargill. The produce is most likely picked that day, and you can even start asking obnoxious questions of the farmer him or herself. You will also find a larger selection of organically grown produce than at your local national chain grocery store.

If you need to find a farmers market near you, I would recommend checking out your local paper or city website. Also, a good online resource is Local Harvest. You can type in your city or zip code and find not only farmers markets, but also co-ops and sustainable and locally-sources restaurants in your area.

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