Local farmer's markets are a wonderful place to get fresh, locally grown produce
It seems like everyone and their brother is planting a vegetable garden this year. Even the White House has a Victory Garden, and everywhere you look, people are growing vegetables on every square available inch of their yards, patios, or allotments. Cities are starting to rent out undeveloped city-owned lots in plots for apartment dwellers to have their own gardens. It makes one feel obligated to join the revolution!
But what if you not only have no room for a vegetable garden, but have no interest in growing one? What if you can't afford to rent a plot, or just have a black thumb? In this case, there is still something you can do ... support the movement by supporting your local farmer's market.
I am originally from Columbia, SC, home of their SC State Farmer's Market. Being an agricultural state, the farmer's market in Columbia is like a carnival of produce, plants, and locally produced preserved foods. I remember as a child, wandering through the farmer's market with my father on Saturday mornings, and as I grew older, I carried on that tradition with my children. To me, there is nothing quite as wondrous as the sights, smells, and sounds of a farmer's market on a summer's day. Sun ripened bushel baskets of peaches, truckloads of watermelons, and every imaginable vegetable laid out in a riot of color; shoppers chatting with farmers as they peruse, squeeze, smell, bargain and pay for their purchases to carry home to their families.
Many years ago, my friend, Jennifer started a movement to start a farmer's market in Venice, Florida. She owned several local produce stands, and felt that everyone should have the chance to buy and eat locally grown food. Even though she is out of the produce market business, she still has a stand at the farmer's market in Venice every other week.
Our city just started having a very tiny farmer's market on Saturday mornings in the parking lot of a local strip mall. It's been very popular, and I hope they continue it through the summer, although I don't know if business will make it worthwhile. I truly hope it will.
Check the link below or contact your local extension service to see if your local area has a farmer's market, and get a taste of what your local farmers have to offer. Florida is an agricultural state, and we should all be proud of, and support that industry. Besides, there is nothing that tastes better than a homegrown tomato.
More about South Florida Gardening:
When to plant vegetables in South Florida
Low chill peach varieties for South Florida
Comments
That's one thing I really miss about Canada. We lived in the middle of Amish country and we had two absolutely fantastic farmer's markets.
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