The Joy of the Farmer's Market

I am a lover of Farmer's Markets. I am a fan of local growers and lover of fresh produce. My nephew calls me a food snob, over the past few years a new term has been coined to describe folks like me localvore.

Before there was a 'movement' there were those of us who just love farmer's markets.

When I still lived and worked in New York, I knew spring was coming when the Thursday Farmer's Market @ the World Trade Center had fiddle head ferns for the first time. The season for fiddle heads is short and oh so sweet, I miss them. Now, I have the joy of fresh eggs. Not only do they come in their own spectacular colours who needs dye? But the flavor is so different; I've become spoiled, if I can't get fresh I won't eat eggs. Though I will bake with eggs purchased from Whole Foods or Sunflower Farmer's Market.

I have a wonderful local grower who not only participates in the Summer Farmer's Market here in downtown Salt Lake City, but who also continues to keep us stocked through the fall and winter. We get weekly email updates and photos throughout the season. He has gone pesticide free in the years since I moved here; and has shared some of the tricks he uses in his greenhouses throughout the winter to keep energy costs down; really quite ingenious.

Over the years I have gotten to know my favorite grower and his father quite well, they are my first stop every Saturday @ the downtown farmer's market and one of the few growers I frequent. I've discovered my favorites and become a loyal customer to them. I still wander the market each Saturday looking for something special but I usually end up with the same vendors and am never sorry for it.

I know there has been much talk about $4.00 grapes and not everyone can afford organic produce. This is true; but almost everyone can afford the local farmer's market; not all growers are certified organic, a majority have gone no-spray and pesticide free. It's still local and hence the carbon footprint for each purchase at a farmer's market is worth it. Local produce is picked closer to sale date and stays fresher longer once you get it home; making it well worth the price. It has an actual taste; unlike the genetically modified for higher yield produce from the corporate farms.

That's the big difference for me; taste. Carrots so sweet and crunchy they taste like candy, strawberries that taste just like they smell, sweet and juicy; spinach that has flavor that just doesn't quit. It is hard to describe the flavors one tastes when eating fresh produce there is no comparison. Anything from the grocery and it doesn't matter if it's Whole Foods or another 'natural' market or a chain supermarket just doesn't have the flavor of locally grown produce; I'll pay the extra. It's well worth the cost; but in reality most food from the local farmer's market isn't that much more expensive and I like keeping my money in the local economy especially during hard times.