Somehow I got behind in posting. This should have posted the weekend of 06/06/09.I think I'm going to challenge myself to try to visit at least 1 Farmer's Market per week. It's a great way to get me out of the house, and the bonus is that we have a chance to patronize local growers and small businesses.
To find a Farmer's Market near you, visit Farmer's Market Search.
Last Saturday we visited a different local Farmer's Market. Many of the same vendors that were as the Farmer's Market we visited the week previous, but a lot of new ones too. And bonus! The Salsa Guys were there. Well, we call them the Salsa Guys, it's actually El Gringo Loco salsas & sauces. They are in Warrenville, IL.
We got a jar of Key Lime & Garlic Salsa, 3 lbs of large beefsteak style tomatoes, 2 cucumbers, a bunch of large green onions, a quart of strawberries, 1 pot of Daisies, and 3 misc flowering plants.
Benefits of visiting your local Farmer's Market/Farmstand:1. Locally grown and picked fruits and vegetables are harvested at their peak of flavor.Here's an article to check out for more tips Kitchen Refresh - Navigating the Farmer's Markets.
2. Buying locally is good for the environment in that you're not relying on a massive distribution system to get your produce to you. (Very "green",)
3. You are supporting local farms and business. Especially good now considering our current economy.
4. Farmer's Market/Farmstand's prices may be lower than your local supermarket. (Not always true, but the quality is always much higher at your local Farmer's Market/Farmstand.)
5. You'll have an opportunity to purchase some items that you may not have grown yourself, or may not be available at your local supermarket.
6. Opportunities abound to try something new, weather it be a new variety of radish, lettuce, etc.
7. Opportunities to try some real homemade baked goods, jams, bottled pickled items and specialty foods.
Is anyone else up for the Challenge? Sign up here and then post about your Farmer's Market/Farmstand experiences and keep track of your visits. Be sure to post your finds on your blog and include the Farmer's Market/Farmstand Challenge Banner which can be copied from HERE. As an incentive (as if getting the freshest produce isn't incentive enough) I will be awarding Entrecard Credits to the top Farmer's Market Patrons now until September 30th. There are 16 weekends until then. Can you visit a Farmer's Market/Farmstand all 16 weekends?
Note: This Mr. Linky is ONLY for particpants in the Farmer's Market/Farmstand Challenge, any "money making" blogs or advertising sites will be promptly removed.
Lola's Diner
©2008-2009
13 comments:
What serendipity! I didn't know about your challenge until I'd already posted about the Farmers Markets of Chicagoland as part of World Blog Surf Day. I'll definitely be targeting to visit a few other of these markets ... you've mentioned the Salsa Guys before, I'll look out for them, for sure! :)
I love farmer's markets!
I have 2 Farmers Markets nearby and plan on visiting them!
I've given you an award:
http://bipolarsoupkitchen-stephany.blogspot.com/2009/06/golden-heart-award-and-my-story-of-hope.html
I've GOT to get downtown to our big Farmers Market here in Baton Rouge. No two ways about it. Thanks for the reminder!
I love the farmer's market. Ours is every Saturday morning. I love this time of year with fresh fruit and veggies.
We're blessed that we live in an agricultural area, and we've always supported the local farmer's markets and fruit stands.
This year we've planted our own garden, but with the rabbits around here, the local farmers have nothing to fear. We lost three tomato plants the first night. haha.
I really need to look for some in my area. Probably beats the half rotten stuff that I buy from Kroger. ;)
We have many Saturday Markets in my area in Oregon. It's still a tad bit early for local produce though. The best markets I know about is actually a Sunday Market in Milwaukie (They spell it different) and a Saturday Market in Vancouver, WA. The Milwaukie Market just rocks with variety of stuff you can buy, great food and live music. And, they have no competition....it's on Sunday!
Thom
BBQing Tips From Deep In The Heart Of Oregon
I love farmer's markets. We have a farmer's market a couple of days during the week- it's not the greatest, but it's still wort hit. I've been meaning to go, but, I'm ridiculously lazy in the summer (okay, I admit, I'm lazy at other times too) and can't get my act together to get out of the house in the morning! I know, pathetic :)thanks for the reminder to JUST DO IT.
in malta we dont get farmers market... but being so small our country, we can go to farmers directly anyway and usually some one in the family is a farmer who can sell you good crops
Not many around here. I will have to search them out. I really love fresh tomatoes. had a farmer market I use to go to however they closed last year:-( be looking and asking around if I find one I'll link up:-)
So glad I saw this on your firecrotch blog...I'll go today!
Hey Lola, just dropping a line to say I only ever made it to two Farmers Markets up in Chicago... but hey, there's one in Springfield this Saturday, and I should be meeting up with some Springfieldians-who-tweet, so perhaps I'll have one more entry before your contest of sorts is over :)
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