The Beauty of A Farmers Market
How often have you made a quick trip to the supermarket to pick up something that you needed? It might be a head of lettuce for the salad that you intend to serve with dinner. The point is that you have the luxury of simply running to the store to pick up whatever you want and some places are even open twenty-four hours a day. It was not always this easy. In the not so distant past, the only way to get those fresh vegetables was to either buy them at a farmers market or grow them yourself. Most families depended on their own garden for the food they needed to last the winter.
Food and agriculture has always been around but it was not until 1916 that the first self service supermarket was introduced. Clarence Saunders opened up his Piggly Wiggly chain in Memphis, Tennessee. It was not the “total” supermarket that you find today because fresh meat and produce were not sold, only canned and boxed goods. The expansion to selling meat and produce came from Michael J. Cullen in 1930. His King Kullen grocery stores were a hit and many other companies adopted the same ideas for selling everything that a family could need.
Life would be more difficult had Saunders not created the grocery store. But it came with a price, as the farmers market became a rarity. More people wanted the conveniences of using a grocery store rather than having to get out early to pick their produce from the local farmers market. In 1994, a survey was performed and there were only about 1,755 farmers markets in the United States. Today, though, that number is more than 4,385 thanks to the organic movement pushing more people to buy locally grown produce that is pesticide free.
Small produce stands and farmers’ markets cannot compete against supermarkets. But that is not their purpose. The market for fresh, organically grown produce is about safety and trying to keep the environment safe while still enjoying locally grown vegetables and produce. Small farmers find that they can sell their produce for a fair, marketable price and keep their operation in business.
If you have never been to a farmers market, then you are definitely missing out on some fantastic opportunities to get fresh, off the vine vegetables. The aroma of freshly picked tomatoes or a ripe cantaloupe is one that should not be missed. If you are looking for a local market, then you can go to www.farmersmarket.com to get a list of certified, organic farms that are close to your home.