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Earth911 is honoring the 52 years of Earth Day with 52 Actions for the Earth. Each week by means of Earth Day 2023, we’ll share an motion you may take to invest in the Earth and make your individual life extra sustainable. Markets that promote recent domestically grown and produced meals make it straightforward to shop your values throughout each environmental and social issues. This week, you may take motion for the Earth by visiting a farmers market.
Action: Visit a Farmers Market
Greener Produce
Industrial agriculture works at too massive a scale to hassle with native markets. Not all the things at your native farmers market shall be organic and GMO-free. But farms that promote at native markets are more likely to be concerned in sustainable or regenerative agriculture. You can discover foraged wild meals like mushrooms, produce grown below permaculture or biodynamic strategies, and humanely raised meats extra simply at farmers markets than at supermarkets.
Even when farmers use standard strategies, buying at a farmers market ensures freshness. Buying meals at its freshest helps remove food waste and could also be more nutritious. Shopping on the farmers market contributes to a plastic-free living since just a few ready meals at such markets are prepackaged and also you convey your individual containers for produce.
Growing Community
Farmers markets are the epitome of shopping local. Shopping domestically reduces the environmental impacts of transporting meals. It additionally helps native farms and artisans like bakers and different small meals companies, protecting cash in your group. Nearly 32 jobs are created for each $1 million in income generated by produce farms concerned in direct advertising and marketing, comparable to farmers markets, compared to solely 10.5 jobs for wholesale farms. Supporting native growers additionally improves food security by growing the number of crops grown and lowering reliance on long-distance transport networks. Shopping on the farmers market provides you the chance to study in regards to the origin of your meals, construct relationships inside the group, and even eat a extra diverse and healthful weight-reduction plan in tune with the seasons.
Visit the Farmers Market
You can use the USDA’s Local Food Directory to discover a farmers market close to you. Many markets run year-round, whereas others solely function in the summertime. Larger markets could also be open each day, however most will solely open on one or two days every week. This week, if a market close to you is open, seize your reusable buying bag and go to the market. Find out what’s out there and the way the costs and high quality evaluate to the grocery store. Even for those who’re underwhelmed, decide to visiting once more in just a few weeks. Available produce adjustments with the seasons, and there shall be extra selection every week because the climate heats up.
If not one of the markets close to you might be open but, make a remark of the opening date in your calendar, and decide to buying there when the reminder pops up. The market won’t be capable to fully exchange the grocery store. But each time you store there, you might be investing within the Earth.
