How farmers’ markets help me to eat well
Posted by kathryn in Easier eating
Today I have a guest post, from Lesh Karan of The Mindful Foodie. This is part of an occasional series on Limes and Lycopene, around the theme of what helps people to eat well. Lesh is a Melbourne based freelance writer, with a particular interest in wholefoods, health and wellbeing. The Mindful Foodie is a wonderful blog, full of cracking recipes and thoughtful pieces on healthy and ethical eating. Over to Lesh.
Those who’ve read my blog and know me through Twitter will know that I’m a huge supporter of farmers’ markets. It’s a win–win situation all round: for the farmers, for the community, for the environment and for me. But, today, I’m here to talk about what’s in it for me. Here are five main reasons why farmers’ markets help me to eat well:
1. Only fresh & seasonal produce
If it’s not seasonal, it’s not fresh. That’s why I buy most of my produce at farmers’ markets, where the food has been harvested close to the day of the market, sometimes as late as the day before. This means my husband and I eat produce that is at its nutritional peak, and, therefore, we get more minerals and vitamins than foods that have been stored for long periods. Besides, seasonal produce is cheaper too, which I means I can buy more wholesome food with less money. It’s also considerably yummier. I mean which one would you choose: a naturally ripened, sweet and juicy heirloom tomato, or one of the watery, insipid, commercial variety? Personally, I think it’s worth waiting for summer for nutritionally dense and yummy tomatoes.
2. Promotes a plant-based diet
At farmers’ markets, I’m not tempted to buy processed, packaged foods. Frankly, because there aren’t any. Sure, there may be some baked goodies, but there aren’t many stalls that sell them; besides, these treats are generally homemade with whole, unprocessed ingredients – e.g. real eggs, real flour, real butter. Mostly, though, stalls sell fruits and vegetables, with a handful selling quality nuts, homemade pantry items, and animal products. This means I don’t come home with stuff that I’ll regret eating later, or that will compromise my healthy eating habits.
3. Accessible pesticide-free & organic produce
I find that I can buy most produce, if not all, organic or pesticide-free. It’s also easy to get free-range meat that’s also free of antibiotics. This is particularly important to me, as I have a couple of immune-related disorders, so I don’t want to burden my immune system with chemicals, where possible. Also, because I’m buying directly from farmers (i.e. there’s no middleman), these foods are generally cheaper than buying them at organic stores, making them reasonably priced.
4. Exposure to new fruits & vegetables
I have been exposed to new types of produce and varieties of other foods that I’ve never seen in supermarkets. Like heirloom fruits and vegetables, for example. This means I have easy access to an array of produce. Otherwise, I would just end up sticking to the same types of foods all the time and my body wouldn’t get the diverse nutrients that nature has to offer.
5. Discover recipes & new ways to cook things
At the markets, I’ve noticed people are always willing to share how they cook certain vegetables. My ears always perk up when it’s something I’m not familiar with, or something that I’d like to try. And I tend to ask questions too. See a couple of my farmers’ market inspirations are here and here. Also my way of doing things is to buy what seems like a weeks worth of veggies to make up dishes – both new and variations of old ones – during the week. It’s almost like getting a weekly veggie box of goodies delivered, then deciding what to do with them – a surefire way to get loads of vegetables in my meals!
Really, I don’t know where I’d be without farmers’ markets and their farmers. I am so grateful and so lucky to have some sensational ones nearby. They make eating not only good for me, but such a joy too!
26 October, 2011
Comments
Hello Kathryn and Lesh!
Eating well does take some thought so it’s great to think about what makes it easier. Farmers’ markets does make fresh, well-grown produce more accessible. And I also think there is a psychological benefit too. Most people don’t think much about vegetables. But when you’re faced with something novel, something really fresh, from fertile soil… how can you not be inspired?!
Hello Kathryn, thanks for having me on Limes & Lycopene! I hope your readers enjoy the article and get inspired to shop at farmers’ markets. :-)
Thank you for your piece Lesh, it’s really interesting for me to read how you approach Farmers’ Markets. As I mentioned to you by email I’m also very jealous of how gorgeous your local market looks. Many of the ones in Sydney are more gourmet food fairs, rather than true Farmers’ Markets.
I get a veggie box each week, of in-season, fresh, local vegetables and also let that guide what I cook. When there’s food in the house, it’s so much easier to get your head around cooking.
Thanks again for guest posting on Limes and Lycopene.
This is a great piece. I work at the Farmers’ Market in London, and I love it. The food I get last so much longer because they are fresher, and I get inspired and happy just wandering around the market.
http://mummyicancook.blogspot.com/2011/10/roast-purple-green-and-white.html
Great post, it’s very true. I also love the farmers’ markets because it’s a more relaxed way to do my food shopping. Grab a coffee, wander around, chat to the stall holders, pat the dogs and so on… it takes the same amount of time as battling the traffic and trolleys at the supermarket but is much more enjoyable.
Great post, Lesh! I find shopping at Farmer’s Markets take the effort out of knowing exactly what’s in season locally, because if it’s not in season it’s not there! In the weeks in between Farmer’s Markets I shop at the Queen Victoria Market (retail produce market), where there’s often fruit and veg from up north that’s not in season down here. Sometimes its hard to resist temptation…like now that mangoes are appearing!
The other good reason to shop the Farmers Markets is to avoid doing business with big corporations, which put shareholders and senior management’s interests before those of consumers, environment and community. It’s so much nicer to buy organic milk from a dairy farmer than from Parmalat! And I get a choice of homogenised, non-homogenised and even unpasturised.
Enjoyable & convincing article, Lesh (though I confess you were “preaching” to a convert). I love Farmers’ Markets for the reasons you’ve listed. I think they make me not only a healthier, but also happier & more mindful [:-)] food buyer and eater.
Lovely to “meet” you. I’ve just started following you on Twitter and look forward to reading your blog. (Thanks for this special guest post, Kathryn.)
@Kathryn, yes, your farmers’ market situation doesn’t seem to flash, but the veggie box option is sensational too! I used to have one delivered before I discovered farmers markets :-)
@Shu Jan, thanks :-) Wow, you work at a farmers’ market in London – that’s awesome!
@Julie G, so true, especially patting the dogs! :-)
@Tracey, thank you. Couldn’t agree with you more about not doing business with big corporations that govern what we eat and do in general. BTW, Leo Babauta has written this timely post on avoiding big corporations: http://mnmlist.com/nope (just thought I’d share) PS: I agree what you said about the supermarket brands of organic milk!
@Elaine, thanks for the follow! I’m now following you too :-) Looks like you’re a fabulous gardener. It’s one of the things I struggle with when it comes to food. But I’ll persevere (off and on!)
@everyone, thanks for reading my piece and for your lovely and thoughtful comments.
Of course, enjoyment is such an important part of food and I’m not just talking about the enjoyment of eating.
Famers’ markets are great but I do get dissapointed to see supermarket prices. By cutting out the retailers the prices really should be a lot lower and more affordable.
Hello Wholefood, I feel that prices at farmers markets, well the ones I go to anyway, are fair and reflect the true cost of food. And actually many times they are cheaper, even for pesticide-free produce. Here, in Australia, supermarkets push down the prices of food, so the farmer suffers, and so does the quality of the produce. I’m not sure what it’s like in the UK, where it seems you are from. But there are a whole gamut of issues to consider. Not only the price-tag, which gives a sense of false economy.
More people should actually buy food in this kind of markets. With it we would not only eat healthier-less fertilisers added- and we would support local business. Thus, not only take care of our health and taste buds , but also it would support our economy.
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