If Farmers' Markets Didn’t Exist
As the full heat of summer swamps New York City in a sticky, humid nightmare, I can always find refreshment at the farmers’ market. Walking past the stalls of wildflowers and endless organic produce, you can almost imagine you are in a small town, or better yet, in your own garden. There is the hormone and antibiotic free milk that doesn’t have that funky after taste, swiss chard that hasn’t been washed with ecoli filled stream water, and freshly grown herbs that haven’t been dried flavorless with preservatives added. Where else can I find rare organic apples at the peak of their season? And let’s not forget my favorite cow’s milk cheese (also hormone free), so perfectly pungent it puts my social and love life at risk.
What if you have never visited a farmers’ market, or don’t have access to one? Regardless of whether you shop at a farmer’s market regularly they have a big impact on the environment and society. It all goes back to the farmer. Most small farm operators sell their produce and other products solely through farmers’ markets. Without them these small farm operations would cease to exist. And since small farmers are more likely to use organic and sustainable farming methods, they are doing a favor to the environment and your health, too.So how do we keep these family farms around? Peeled Snacks partners with the American Farmland Trust to support their efforts to protect small farmers and preserve American Farmland. American Farmland Trust holds an annual America’s Favorite Farmers Markets™ contest to raise national awareness about the importance of buying fresh food from local farms and saving the farmland where it's grown. Cast your vote here to support your favorite farmers market! The contest ends midnight on August 31, 2011. Please spread the word to all your friends. It’s not just about stinky cheese and organic apples. It’s about small family run farms, local business, and a sustainable environment. Let’s do what we can to keep farmers’ markets in our neighborhoods!