Food & Farming / News & Views / The Value of a Farmers Market
The Value of a Farmers Market
Fresh to TC | July 9, 2014 | By Rebecca Fisher
Recent Comments
- Mark Coe: Having had the oppertunity to present at a local school with Meghan and Leanna, supporting the work Food Corps does is a wonderful thing. They provide a learning oppertunity to our children in agricu...
- Linda Hutchinson: Great! Having been raised on a farm, near Arcadia, I wish my dad who was a Farmer's Market regular in the 60's, 70's and 80's, was here to be involved in the "farm to table" and "local food" initiati...
- Dale Scheiern: It is easy to store and enjoy all winter long too!! Take 1 qt. freezer bags, fill to the point they will lay fairly flat ( not rounded) so they stack easily in the freezer. Local fruit all winter lo...
- Sharron May, The May Farm: You are correct if you are referring to industrial monocultures of animal or plant agriculture which are extractive, organic or not. Fortunately there are small farms pioneering more regenerative prac...
- LillyM: I've been fortunate enough to meet and work with Lianna and hope to meet Meghan. Every FoodCorps volunteer I have met over the years has been incredible. A phenomenal organization with dedicated and...
It’s a fresh Northern Michigan Wednesday morning. From many feet away, you can hear the noise of the Sara Hardy Farmers Market. You can hear the chattering floating through the air along with laughter of children and other bustling noises that add to the energy that surrounds the market.
When you cross the bridge over the Boardman River, all kinds of commotion meet your eyes. There are vendors surrounded by vibrant produce, from green kale to heirloom tomatoes to bright red strawberries. Children run around excitedly pointing to various fruits and veggies. Patrons smile and converse with vendors and other market-goers. There is a fun vibe. People are enjoying themselves.
You can hear the passion in the farmers’ voices about their produce in their interactions with patrons. They speak colorfully about the ingredients and about recipes. The excitement spreads to the customer who asks questions and learns more about the food they are bringing to their table.
You may have read some of my articles about trips to the farmers market. It’s an experience I always enjoy a huge amount. The sense of community, the passion, and the great produce all make a great way to spend a Wednesday or Saturday morning. I’ve had so many positive moments where I learned something about an ingredient or was inspired by a recommended recipe and tried something new.
This video is meant to highlight the passion, excitement, exchange of information— and just plain old fun—that is all part of a farmers market.
2 Comments
3786 days ago, 10:50am | by Emma Kelly | Report Comment
Thank you for this special little video. You do an excellent job highlighting what makes our TC market special.
3772 days ago, 9:50pm | by Cathy Odom | Report Comment
Right on! Those are all the reasons I love the Farmer's Market, too. Plus, it's so colorful! Nice job, Rebecca.