www.deathandtaxesmag.com - August 23rd, 2011
Farmers’ markets grew 17% over the past year, bringing our national total to 7,175. Could this trend help reap a more sustainable future?
Farmers’ markets are taking root from coast to coast. One thousand new, food-centric bazaars have opened over last year, according to fresh USDA numbers. That brings our national total to 7,175 markets across the nation, more than double the 3,706 from in 2004. This trend could have a huge impact on our economy and way of life.
On an individual or family level, the increase of farmers’ markets will have a direct impact on people’s health. It’s impossible to deny that fresh fruits and vegetables, stripped of their pesticides, preservatives and image-enhancing waxes, are far better for our bodies than mass produced produce. And 12% of all locations accept food stamps, thereby ensuring that low-income families have access to at least some of the bounty.
Then there’s the fact that independent emporiums allow consumers a more intimate shopping experience, which brings peace of mind during the seemingly ubiquitous food recalls.
“Whenever there is a food-borne outbreak, it drives more consumers to farmers’ markets,” Dianne Eggert, executive director of the Farmer’s Market Federation of New York, told Reuters. “They can ask more questions about how their food is produced.”
But obviously farmers’ markets aren’t just about hippie-dippie love and happiness that yield strong, trusting, healthy communities. They’re businesses, and they’re booming in surprising places.
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