Picking out farm-fresh produce, mingling with growers and supporting the community are all part of a day’s fun when visiting a local farmers’ market.
As National Farmers Market Week kicks off Aug. 4-10, communities are celebrating the role farmers’ markets play in supporting local agriculture, building connections and delivering fresh local produce to patrons. Now in its 25th year, the annual event is sponsored by the Farmers’ Market Coalition, which aims to highlight markets’ impact on the nation’s food system and economy.
“The food sales at farmers’ markets create stronger local economies because a greater share of the money spent there is more likely to remain in the community—supporting local jobs and services, compared to the money being sent to a distant corporate office,” explained Tony Banks, senior assistant director of agriculture, development and innovation for Virginia Farm Bureau Federation.
A statistic from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that reports growers selling l...