For the Consumers - They provide direct contact and feedback between customers and producers, so you can be sure how your vegetables are grown and meat produced.
- They help to improve diet and nutrition by providing access to fresh food.
- They play an important role in educating the consumer as to the production and origin of their food.
- They can be a source of information and inspiration on how to cook and prepare fresh ingredients.
For the Environment - They help reduce food miles, thus vehicle pollution, noise, and fossil fuel use.
- They help to reduce packaging.
- They encourage more environmental production practices, such as organic or pesticide free.
- They encourage farm diversification and hence bio-diversity.
For the Community & Local Economy - They help bring life into towns and cities aiding regeneration.
- They encourage social interaction particularly between rural and urban communities.
- They stimulate local economic development by increasing employment, encouraging consumers to support local business, and thus keeping the money within the local community.
- They attract business to retailers in the vicinity.
So visit your local Farmers Market and enjoy the locally grown, locally made items...
Couldn't have said it any better! :-)
ReplyDelete