Top 10 Reasons to Shop at a Farmers Market
- Farmers markets are easy to find. Use the USDA Farmers Markets Search to find one near you. Due to their flexible locations, some community farmers markets provide fresh, healthy foods when other sources aren't as easily accessed. Learn more about how the USDA helps to expand healthy food access through the development of local food systems.
- SNAP and WIC cards are accepted at most farmers markets. Click here for more information on food assistance programs.
- You can try a new fruit or vegetable! Have you ever tasted gooseberries or rhubarb? Many farmers markets offer lesser known fruits and vegetables, providing a variety that can be both tasty and nutritious. Learn how to select the best quality, how to store, and about the nutritional values of these rarer fruits and vegetables (and some common ones, too) in the Fruit Nutrition Database and Vegetable Nutrition Database.
- Farmers often have good recommendations on ways to prepare their products. For more inspiration, visit Fruits and Veggies More Matters to see recipes using fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Buy foods and see how they fit with ChooseMyPlate. Create a healthy plate with goodies from your local farmers market. Visit different booths to pick up seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as local dairy, grain and protein products so you can build your healthy plate
- Farmers markets can be important anchors for vibrant communities. Meet your local farmers, learn about foods grown in your area and catch up with friends and neighbors while stocking up with local goods. Supporting your local farmers market strengthens your community. Learn how farmers markets impact your community in this section of the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Compass.
- It's a great way to get your kids involved. Let them pick out something new to try, then they can help prepare a meal or snack using these helpful tips at the Food and Nutrition Information Center’s Consumer Corner.
- Fresh fruit and vegetables are full of antioxidants and phytonutrients. What are these? Why do we need them? More information at What’s in Food.
- Shopping at farmers markets supports your local farmers and keeps the money you spend closer to your neighborhood. Find a farmers market near you and plan your next shopping trip now! You can help new and/or smaller farmers be successful and help save farmland in your area. To learn more, please see the Economic Research Service's overview of the economic impact of local food systems.
- Freshly picked ripe food is at its peak in flavor and nutrition. Stop by your local farmers market today, learn about where your food comes from, and enjoy some delicious and nutritious food.
What if you don’t have a farmers market near you? Look for roadside stands. They sell many of the same fresh, seasonal foods that farmers markets sell. How convenient it is to just pull the car over and shop!
Another great alternative is Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). These are farms where you buy into a season’s worth of food. All you have to do is go once a week to pick up your food. Find a CSA near you.
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