It's coming, it's coming!
Thankfully spring is working the very magic we look forward to every year. And for me that means farmer's markets. In my neck of the woods, we are very lucky to be in the middle of multiple options of deliciousness. The markets are as varied as the reasons one might grab their cloth market bag, wipe the sleep outta their eyes & bike on over. Some (like me) believe in buying local produce from the very farmers who harvested the colorful delights. Others (like me) might like the live music. Still others (like me) enjoy the culinary delights to be found & enjoyed with a good cup of coffee.
Whatever your reasons, I hope this links help you find just the right market for you.
www.localharvest.org
http://www.state.nj.us/agriculture/
http://www.thefoodtrust.org/php/programs/farmers.market.program.php
In the meantime, while we wait for these gems to all open, head to the fair food farmstand in the reading terminal for a quick fix.
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ReplyDeleteHow can we check out that our markets don't just move 'old' or 'general' produce to the 'favored' places? Are farmstands favored b/c they are reputable OR by frequency? Is there an 'organic' trademark among farmstands?
Ah, the old buyer beware. I am not sure about regulations but I will look into it. In my opinion, farmer's markets are typically a better spot than say a grocery store to get locally sourced food. The experiance puts you in touch with the farmer directly where you can ask questions. Organic is becoming more mainstream but still expensive. As more people demand it, the supply will follow. Actually there is a list of 7 or 8 fruits & vegetables that don't matter to your personal health because we peel them. Bananas are one example. The complication is what the pesticide does to the earth. Thanks for you question, you raise a great point!
ReplyDeleteJulie,
ReplyDeleteAlthough I have more to discover, it sounds like the farmers market manager is ultimately in charge of regulations. Food safety is one issue I read about.
Ok, more info. This is from collingswood farmers market site. Pretty interesting. Still doesn't address you question totally but we're getting closer.
ReplyDeleteWe feature New Jersey farmers, growers, and food preparers to keep the emphasis of our market LOCAL, LOCAL, LOCAL.
Many of the people assisting you in buying your produce are the farmers, growers, beekeepers, and bakers themselves, or family members. We encourage dialogue between our Market participants and the consumers. Many Market "regulars" know their favorite farmers and growers by name—the majority of our participants return year after year.
The "buy local" trend is growing and we need to clarify some of the items we offer. For our market, carefully considered exceptions serve customer demand and gaps in availability.
We do allow a limited amount of items that are not from New Jersey. Properly labeled, these items allow farmers to augment their own produce supply and informed consumers may choose to buy them or not. We have one "import" participant (lemons, limes, and such) who refrains from bringing items that are in season locally, that our farmers agree is acceptable.
If not in season in New Jersey, efforts are made to provide harvests that are as local as possible. We insist that all items are properly labeled, of highest quality only, and that farmers are honest about origin.
Farmers are also required to use their Jersey Fresh marketing materials to comply with the Jersey Fresh program's rules, provided by the NJDA.
Organic farmers will be able to give you information on their certification.