Hello Summer and Farmers' Markets!

June 21st harkens the official first day of summer, though many of you may have already kicked it off with Memorial Day festivities, a few weeks back.  At this "official" start of summer, and the official starting week of my local farmers’ market, I thought it opportune to discuss the advantages of shopping a farmers’ market to the healthy lifestyle as well as the pitfalls to be aware of (and yes, there are some!)

Historically, farmers’ markets were the only location to purchase produce, meats, and grains that one did not produce at home on his own farm.  In the pre-industrial age, farmers’ markets were almost a necessary exchange of goods to variegate one’s diet and the only method of buying these items, as formalized grocery stores were not yet in existence.  Likewise, produce, meats, cheeses, and nuts are perishable and before the Industrial Revolution, transportation and refrigeration methods made these items attainable at the local level only.  Americans ate what was local because they had no other choice.

With modern factories, the refrigerated rail car, and eventually processing and preservatives, farmers’ markets dwindled in favor of cheaper mass produced goods.  Indeed, the aluminum can provided an almost amazing lifespan for canned food, which ultimately became more convenient as our nation shifted from an agrarian society to the cement jungle of today.

However, we all know that stuff from a can generally isn’t as good as the fresh version, right?  Who hasn’t experienced a craving for fresh fruit around about February—when there is nothing local available (at least in Michigan anyway!)?  Now, supermarkets of today are just that, super.  They provide fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, and dairy year-round from all over the country and the world at relatively affordable prices, but if you’re like me, you know those strawberries from California just aren’t as good as fresh Michigan strawberries.  Local still rules in the Flavor Town playbook!

Luckily, as Americans have shifted away from production to an economy based on technology and services, there has been a revitalization of farmers’ markets.  Whether people want to regain a lost connection with the land from the Jeffersonian days of the agrarian nation, are just yuppies looking for a Saturday morning activity, or are country folk supporting their neighbors and friends by buying local, the Farmers’ Market Movement has taken the United States by storm over the last few years.  I would also have to say, this has benefited the American diet as well.

Fresh foods provide more nutritional value than those you’ll find laying around your supermarket—whether in a bin in the produce section or sealed in a can.  Something that was growing just a day or a few hours is incomparable to grocery store produce in vitamins, taste, and texture.  You’ll find that many farmers’ market goods are even organic.  I suggest you take a look at what your local market has to offer—usually they operate weekly or a few days a week, so check their schedules!  Get there early for the best goods and shop for a week’s worth of delicious fruit, veggies, meat, and cheese while helping out your community and sustaining your local economy as well.  You may find that prices are a little higher than at the local grocery store, but remember, these are local farmers who don’t produce in mass quantity for the retail market—and the prices are generally well worth it.

Many farmers’ markets today also harbor craftspeople—whether they are selling baked goods, candy, hot food, or jewelry.  These are the booths to be cautious of when trying to live a healthier lifestyle.  For instance, I recently attended another local market and found a booth selling chocolate candy…chocolate candy with bacon!  This is a dangerously delicious combination of sweet and savory.  Despite my best effort at getting “dark chocolate” for its health benefits—it was still just sugar and salt.  A single piece every now and again is fine—but think before you put it in your mouth and avoid being found passed out on a nearby bench with chocolaty remnants smudged across your face, the scent of bacon still lingering in the air.

My local farmers’ market also houses a local home bakery known as Truly Scrumptious (http://www.trulyscrumptious

cakery.com).  Though they produce special occasion cakes as well, they typically sell cupcakes and cookies of all sorts at the weekly market.  Here, baked goods at a farmers’ market might fall into both categories of caution and awesome.  Just as with any sugary item, think before you eat it—how much are you eating?  How many potential calories are in that item?  Can you calorically afford to eat such a treat?  However, there is also something to be said about quality over quantity, as suggested by my runner friend and running club boss man, Dave.  A beautiful and delicious cookie produced by a local artisan is more worth the splurge than a day old chocolate chip from McDonald's.  If you’re going to splurge, choose wisely, and your local farmers’ market might just be the place to make that choice.  Additionally, one super delicious cookie or cupcake a week, probably won’t kill anyone or anyone’s diet for that matter.