I recently read an article by April Dykman over on J.D. Roth’s blog, Get Rich Slowly, that spoke of the financial benefits to shopping at local farmers markets.  I read the article and realized that the author had made several great points, especially when she spoke of the bargain prices that could be had.  In the end, these farmers are the source of our food, their margin should be much smaller than a large grocer’s; allowing you to save big bucks on a weekly basis.  Is this true?

Well my wife and I ventured out today to a large farmers market outside of town, and we discovered there are many more benefits to shopping local. Read on for my top 5 reasons why you should shop at your local farmers market.

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1) Prices, Prices, Prices

When people often think of farmers market they instantly picture expensive, specialty products because that is what we’ve been taught to expect when going to some of the more mainstream grocers that consider themselves markets (in London we have Sunripe, Remarks and Angelo’s that consider themselves markets, but are simply high priced grocery stores with a European twist).

Items at farmers markets are on average 20 to 40% cheaper than the same counterpart at your local grocer.  Here are some  items we purchased today at the market and their prices, you be the judge:

• 1 English Cucumber for 75c, 3 for $2.00 (these currently sell for $1.29 per cuke at local grocery stores)
• 3 Artichokes for $1.00, 7 for $2.00 (I wager these would cost a minimum $6.00 for 7 at local grocery stores)
• 3 Green peppers for $1.00 (these are typically $1.99 per lb, 3 times the cost at your local grocer)

And I can go on, and on, and on with baked goods and meats.  You simply can’t beat the price and if you find yourself there late in the day, barter with the merchants, the last thing they want to do at the end of a day is package up their product.

2) Selection is Key

Where else can you walk into a building and in one quick glance find baked goods from across the world, fresh local meats, produce, prepared Mexican, Latin, German and Dutch meals?  That is the gem of farmers markets, there is such a mixture of foods and cultures that you can find everything you may need on your grocery list in one store. How’s that for convenience?  No need to hit 4 different stores anymore! And if you think that taking the time to find a farmers market, driving there and purchasing your food eats up more of your already precious time, think again.  It’s fresh convenience that just can’t be beat.

3) Support Local Families

Would you rather see your money, or most of it at least, end up in some fat executive’s pocket or the pocket of a local family toiling over their farm and trying their hardest to make ends meet? If you’re anything like me, you’ll certainly pick the latter every time. The extra time you spend walking through the market is a small price to pay when you know you’re supporting your local economy, making your town a healthier place for everyone.  Studies have shown that levels of crime drop  substantially when the community is able to sustain itself through employment and healthy profits.

4) Enjoy the Culture

We’ve been avid farmers market shoppers for years now, and every time we come home we are amazed at the new culture we’ve experienced.  Today alone we purchased a lovely beef roast from an Amish family, freshly made salsa from a Mexican woman, red snapper from a Portuguese fishery and cupcakes from a quaint little Portuguese bakery.  You simply can’t ask for a better way to experience the world while staying local! Get out there today and live life a little, you’ll be surprised at how powerful food can be at breaking down cultural barriers.

5) Explore new things

This is especially fun for young families with children who are just discovering the world.  Why not immerse them in an environment where cultures co-exist and foods mingle freely.  We can’t all afford to travel across borders on a weekly basis, but farmers markets provide nearly all of the same benefits, at a fraction of the cost.

I even got to watch an animal auction at the farmers market today, something that I found a little off putting, but in my quest to become more and more attached to my sources of food, I feel is necessary.  Learning where our food comes from, and becoming more attuned to the fruits of our earth can only help to heighten our enjoyment of the food we eat.  Farmers markets are the easiest way, short of owning your own farm, to get a taste of what it’s like to truly understand where that chicken, goat, cow, carrot or basil leaf came from.

Related posts:

1. The Savvy Shopper’s Guide to the Farmers’ Market
2. Stretching Your Money At The Farmers Market
3. (Mostly) Organic BLT Sandwich