Support Your Local Farmers' Markets: Here's Why...

Yesterday morning I visited the opening of the Annandale, VA farmer's market. Although it is still early in the season, there are wonderful things to be had! Here are a few reasons why you should seek out your local farmer's market.

1. Farmers' markets provide local, fresh-picked produce which is higher in nutrients than produce which was picked from far-away and trucked to your local supermarket. Did you know the average distance your grocers produce travels is 900 miles? Yikes!

Reason #2: Color! look at the color your farmer's market offers! Talk about eye candy!...

Hydroponic tomatoes picked very early that morning. And...

...Dahlias!...And...

...Apples. These were picked from the farmer's orchard in the fall and stored all winter. Still delicious!

Reason Number 3: You get to met the people who grow the food and plants. Chat them up!

Smita proudly serves tasty samples of her Crackpot Gourmet jams. I bought her roasted strawberry and Indian pepper jam---Heavenly!

And Mr. Settle from Culpepper, VA, told me all about these adorble teeny tiny tomato plants: Tiny Tim and Micro Tom. Tiny only grows to 1-1/2 feet tall and Micro only grows 6 inches tall! They put out loads of the itty bitty tomatoes. I bought one plant but he insisted I take another one for FREE! Did I say how much I love the farmer's market?

Reason number 4: Variety. You get to see vegetables you might not see at your regular grocers...

I snatched up a bunch of these wonderful white turnips. Yum!

And reason number 5: More variety. These eggs are so tempting, but I bought fresh baked bread from this vendor.

So, there you have it. Five good reasons to seek out your local farmer's market this spring!~~Now, where are thise estate and yard sales????~~~XXOO, Beth