There are many great reasons to shop at local farmers’ markets. Not only will you support local farmers, but you will also enjoy freshly picked produce at lower prices. Fruits and vegetables are excellent for combating disease and help to reduce inflammation in the body, but they’re even better when they’re organic. If you buy organic produce but also want to support your local farmers’ markets, there are a few things to learn beforehand.
When you browse your local farmers’ market, it’s easy to want to buy each and every delicious item you see. Unfortunately, not all farmers’ market items are grown organically. Buying local and organic produce is beneficial to the environment and your health, so local and organic produce is your best bet. It just takes a little extra work on your part to find the organic items at your local farmers’ market.
As you browse the stands at the market, many vendors will have signs that state that the produce is indeed organic. Still, it’s important that you ask vendors who grew the food and where it was grown. You should also ask if the food is certified organic. If a vendor is marketing their produce is organic, they should have a copy of their organic-certification certificate, which you can ask to see.
If you don’t see a sign labeled organic or the farmer tells you they are not certified organic, you can ask them how the food was grown. Some farmers actually do use legitimate organic growing practices but choose to exclude themselves from the certification process. Some smaller farms may even be exempt from the certification if they are small enough or earn less than $5,000 per year. However, it is important to ask the farmer how their food was grown and find out if they spray, use pesticides, or how they handle weeds or other pests.
Even if you see a vendor marketing themselves as “spray-free” or “no spray,” you should be sure to ask questions and find out what they mean exactly. Vendors can call themselves whatever they want and unless they are certified organic, nobody is actually looking into their claims.
Organic produce is the healthiest option for avoiding pesticides, fertilizers, and synthetic ingredients. Seeds and transplants are chemical-free and the fertilizer is natural. However, if you cannot buy organic 100% of the time, be sure to buy organic when it comes to the dirty dozen, which are foods that have the highest pesticide load.
The dirty dozen includes apples, strawberries, grapes, celery, peaches, spinach, sweet bell peppers, nectarines, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, snap peas, and potatoes. If you can only afford to buy some foods organic, make it these!
If you are already suffering from pains and discomfort, then keeping your foods clean is incredibly important. Why put chemicals into your body when they are known to cause side effects and even life-threatening diseases? Shop organic whenever possible and support your local farmers’ markets this summer!