POPSUGAR

5 Reasons Not to Skip Winter Farmers Markets

Feb 7 2015 - 6:30am

I know, it's really cold outside. But the shift in weather is no excuse to shift your diet away from local, sustainable, fresh food! You may not get to wear shorts and a tank, but making a trip to a farmers market [1] is just as productive an excursion in the cooler months as it is in the hot Summer sun. Are you picking up what I'm putting down? Here are five reasons you shouldn't skip farmers markets in the Winter.

  1. A little green goes a long way. While the chilly weather and lack of sunshine is bound to affect your mood, you'll be feeling recharged after you head to a farmers market, in all of its colorful Winter splendor. As I've said to myself: a little green goes a long way amid all the gray.
  2. Try out new fruits and veggies. Even if the farmers market doesn't have what I'm looking for, it always proves to be a great experience: you're forced to think outside your typical box and pull for fruits and vegetables you might not have been exposed to before. If you've moved to a new city or are living in a different climate, getting to a farmers market is an awesome way to see what your new region has to offer your taste buds. Who knows? Maybe you'll find your new favorite nosh.
  3. It won't cost more money. People tend to ask me the same question: "Isn't the farmers market really expensive?" My response: no way. If anything, eating local food has only saved me a huge chunk of change. I'm always amazed how little an enormous bundle of organic greens costs from a farmers table as opposed to a box from the supermarket. This is especially true in the colder months; just last weekend, I picked up three bags of fresh lettuce picked that morning for less than a combined $5.
  4. There's much more than fruits and vegetables. In the past, farmers markets were solely about the produce, but as people all over are catching the local-food bug, the vendors are getting more varied. You may be surprised to see flowers, artisan cheeses, organic meats, and baked goods all at your local farmers markets. There goes your need to make an extra trip to the florist, butcher, or bakery.
  5. You're supporting your local community. Just because it's cold outside doesn't mean that farmers don't have to eat! When you put their food on your table, you're helping a local farmer put food on his table.

Source URL
https://www.popsugar.com/food/Reasons-Go-Winter-Farmers-Market-21572482