Top Reasons to Visit a Farmers’ Market

By Holley Grainger  |   Published: Apr 9, 2015  |  Latest updated: May 2, 2019
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Guest Post: Elisabeth Spragg, Nutrition Student at Samford University

If you have never been to a farmers’ market, put it on your bucket list.  Farmers’ markets are a great place to purchase produce at the peak of its freshness and also to meet the people who grow your food.  Not much feels better than coming home and knowing you have fresh produce for the week while also knowing you supported your local community members.

Below are the top reasons why you should visit a farmers market:

1. Connect with Your Community 

  • Farmers markets are a great place to meet up with family and friends. It is a place where you can make shopping enjoyable and fun rather than have it feel like a chore.  I love to grab a snack or even a drink there and just walk around while enjoying the weather and local community members.

2. Know Where Your Food Comes From

  • Famers markets are a place where you are able to meet and talk to famers and food artisans. It is a great opportunity and learning experience to be able to know where your food is grown and also who is growing it. The best part though may be is the that the food is always so nutritious and delicious! And don’t be afraid to ask the farmers questions, that is what they are there for.

3.  Taste Fresh Flavors 

  • The fruits and vegetables at farmers market are more than likely the freshest available and there is always such a great variety of them! There is not any long distancing shipping required so the fruits are ripped fully in the field and then brought directly to the market.

4. Seasonal

  • Most farmers markets, especially the ones around Birmingham are open during the summer, fall and spring and mostly closed during the winter. So during these seasons all the produce sold is based on what grows well during that season.I think that our society as a whole has gotten away from seasonal produce and most grocery stores sell every produce during every season. So, this is why I love farmers markets so much because it teaches me all about seasonal foods and freshness. For example, I always look forward to asparagus in the spring, pumpkins in the fall and especially sweet corn on the cob in the summertime.

Below are a few of my favorite farmers markets around Birmingham or ones that I have on my list to visit

  1. Alabama Farmers Market 
  2. Pepper Place Saturday Market *very popular
  3. West Homewood Farmers Market
  4. UAB Famers Market
  5. The Summit Farmers Market
  6. Crestline Farmers Market

Have you been to any of these farmers markets? Which are your favorites? Or are there any that you love that I didn’t mention? Please share in the comments!