The kitchen garden series is here to tell you why shopping at your local farmers market is a healthy way to do your weekly grocery run. Here are a few of our favorite reasons to inspire you to shop local this market season, even though it might look a little different this year.

Fresh air

Fresh air is good for the soul. While strolling along through a farmers market to collect your food for the week you can enjoy the weather, breathe in the fresh air, and relish a nice moment in the sun while you shop for all your kitchen necessities. Does it get much better than outdoor market shopping? Stop and smell the flowers!

Unexpected finds

Farmers markets aren’t just about fruits and vegetables. Many markets take the time to curate booths from local artists and small batch makers. You could discover your new favorite relish, or products to help you on your low-waste journey (ahem, like the kitchen garden series) or refill your glass bottle of kombucha from a local kombucha brewer. Doing some window shopping in an open air market might lead you to your next favorite artisanal coffee or home brew. 

Human Connection

Nothing beats the human connections you can make while shopping at a locally vended market. You can talk to the farmers and learn their story or hear more about the business that makes your new favorite napkins. You can learn a little history about your city. You can pet the friendly animals that people bring along. When you regularly support your local market, you can learn the faces and names of the vendors and they’ll remember you, which makes shopping a little more personal and special.

Local food

Supporting your local food chain helps decrease your environmental impact. Shopping at a farmers market for produce that’s in season and buying things locally directly sustains your local food chain! Did you know that the smaller the distance traveled between you and your food, the better? Less travel helps cut carbon emissions, and we love that! We also think it’s easier to shop plastic free at the farmers market and our products will help you on your market trips. Plus, the produce and goods you find at farmers markets is grown by people invested in the community. When you support your local food system by supporting farmers markets, you are strengthening your local economy and contributing to the health of the community. Shopping at farmers markets is more important now than ever to support your local food system even if it might be a little less relaxed this summer. 

If supporting a local, and sustainable system of community is your cup of tea, find your nearest farmers market. It can become part of your weekly shopping ritual. Things look a little different this year, your local market could be doing point-to-shop or contact free pickup or other innovative ways of ordering. But you can still shop in the fresh air, support your favorite makers, and find something unexpected.