Local Farmers Markets

[Joe O'Connell]

Local Farmers' Markets offer many Hudson Valley farmers and producers a reliable local outlet for their astonishingly wide array of goods. You can find everything from traditional Hudson Valley crops such as apples, tomatoes and sweet corn to more unusual fare including goat cheeses, Asian greens, honey and salsas.

Food shopping at farmers' markets bring direct contact between consumers and farmers. Some even take county food stamps, making fresh food available to every economic level. A trip to the local market is a fun way to spend a weekend morning. Shop early, don't go with a list, see what looks best and plan your meal around the freshest possible foods. Try something that is new to you. Ask questions of the people who grew and know the food best. Bring your own bags or baskets; no carts to push around. Browse around! You will find more than one vendor offering those tomatoes. Plan to stop at home before running any errands. Don't leave fresh produce in a hot car. You may find your corn cooked and your tomatoes stewed, which is far from what you want. Be sure to get these fresh goods home as quickly as possible.

Farmers of the Hudson Valley are finding new ways to live and share with their neighbors. They are finding new ways to sell their goods. They are finding new goods to produce. They are finding new ways to think and talk about what they do, and to bring their neighbors to their farms to learn and play.

Shopping at the farmers' market supports local agriculture. It supports the health of the land in the Hudson Valley, and maintains a reliable source of good food for our families. In other words, farmers' markets are about something that matters.

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