A Better Way to Shop for Groceries

With the coming of summer also arrives the opening of seasonal farmers markets. While grocery shopping at the farmers market takes longer then a quick trip to the grocery store, the benefits are well worth it.

Unlike the sterile corporate feel of the grocery store, farmers markets tend to be full of activity, colour and characters. At farmers markets, the cold shrug of shoulders from a grocery clerk in response to a question such as “are these tomatoes local” is replaced with not only an overwhelming “Yes!” but very often information about the time earlier that day that the produce was picked!

Variety is another difference between grocery stores and farmers markets. Whereas most grocery stores are part of a huge distribution chain, enabling produce to be available year round [just shipped in from further way]; farmers markets are largely dependent on what is in season. This means that at the market, in addition to becoming more in tune to the growing seasons for different fruits and vegetables, you might also have the chance to find some less common local specialities, that are not part of the grocery store distribution chain.

From an environmental perspective, farmers markets are a wonderful way to ‘shop local’ and help build a sustainable economy.

The weekend is coming, the best time to explore a farmers market rather then slogging through the grocery store.

For information about farmers markets in your area try doing a google search on: farmers market and your town, and/or check out these sites:

www.growninpeel.ca

www.toronto.ca/events/markets.htm