Earth911 is honoring the 52 years of Earth Day with 52 Actions for the Earth. Every week by Earth Day 2023, we’ll share an motion you possibly can take to invest in the Earth and make your personal life extra sustainable. Markets that promote contemporary regionally grown and produced meals make it simple to shop your values throughout each environmental and social concerns. This week, you possibly can take motion for the Earth by visiting a farmers market.
Motion: Go to a Farmers Market
Greener Produce
Industrial agriculture works at too giant a scale to hassle with native markets. Not every thing at your native farmers market will likely be organic and GMO-free. However farms that promote at native markets are more likely to be concerned in sustainable or regenerative agriculture. You will discover foraged wild meals like mushrooms, produce grown below permaculture or biodynamic strategies, and humanely raised meats extra simply at farmers markets than at supermarkets.
Even when farmers use typical strategies, buying at a farmers market ensures freshness. Shopping for meals at its freshest helps remove food waste and could also be more nutritious. Procuring on the farmers market contributes to a plastic-free living since only some ready meals at such markets are prepackaged and also you carry your personal containers for produce.
Rising Group
Farmers markets are the epitome of shopping local. Procuring regionally reduces the environmental impacts of transporting meals. It additionally helps native farms and artisans like bakers and different small meals companies, preserving cash in your group. Almost 32 jobs are created for each $1 million in income generated by produce farms concerned in direct advertising, comparable to farmers markets, compared to solely 10.5 jobs for wholesale farms. Supporting native growers additionally improves food security by growing the number of crops grown and lowering reliance on long-distance transport networks. Procuring on the farmers market provides you the chance to be taught in regards to the origin of your meals, construct relationships throughout the group, and even eat a extra various and healthful weight-reduction plan in tune with the seasons.
Go to the Farmers Market
You should use the USDA’s Local Food Directory to discover a farmers market close to you. Many markets run year-round, whereas others solely function in the summertime. Bigger markets could also be open daily, however most will solely open on one or two days every week. This week, if a market close to you is open, seize your reusable buying bag and go to the market. Discover out what’s obtainable and the way the costs and high quality examine to the grocery store. Even if you happen to’re underwhelmed, decide to visiting once more in just a few weeks. Obtainable produce adjustments with the seasons, and there will likely be extra selection every week because the climate heats up.
If not one of the markets close to you might be open but, make a remark of the opening date in your calendar, and decide to buying there when the reminder pops up. The market may not be capable to fully substitute the grocery store. However each time you store there, you might be investing within the Earth.