Taking your children to a farmers market

Taking your children to a farmers market can be a learning experience for the entire family while having fun and supporting local businesses!

Sam's produce pick of the day.

Buying your local produce at a farmers market can help improve the nutrition of your family.  Most farmers harvest their produce the morning of or the day prior to the market, so you're getting the freshest, ripest, most nutritionally dense foods available.

Tips for taking children to farmers markets:

Have your children pick out a vegetable and/or fruit that they are willing to try/eat.  They can help in the preparation of the food....even picky eaters will usually try something that they have picked out.

Give your children money for the market, since most markets only take cash, and have them pay the farmer for the food(s) they picked out.  This gives them a sense of independence and builds math skills.


Children will learn what foods are in season....why aren't there strawberries in Jan.?  where's the broccoli in the summer?  In a grocery store, foods come from all over the world, so kids don't see seasonal products like they do at a farmers market. The average distance in North America that your food has traveled to get to your table is 1,000 to 1,500 miles. Explain the importance of supporting local farms and how it's better for the environment, the local economy, and our carbon footprint.

Do you have inquisitive kids? Ask a farmer!
My son was so curious why the eggs at the farmers markets were not all white or all brown like in the grocery store that he asked the farmer.  He got a five minute tutorial on why some chickens lay light blue eggs and some brown, etc....he still has not forgotten that conversation and always wants to say "Hi" to the 'egg man'. 


It's also a great place to sample new foods.  My son's favorite booth is the Happy Vegan, where he can a get a small gluten free vegan cupcake that's delicious and portion controlled...that makes me happy!  We have sampled local honey, pecans, salad greens with homemade dressing, seasonal fruit jams, kombucha, teas, gluten free breads, lavender salt, mulberries, and even local sake....just me on that one.  Don't forget to bring your own bags or totes to the market.  Pack extra for your children, so they can carry their own purchases.

Find a farmers market near you

http://www.localharvest.org/

Don't have time to shop at a farmers market: 


CSA - Community Supported Agriculture is a direct relationship between the consumer and the farm.  You sign up for a weekly box of seasonal produce and it's delivered to your house or available for pick up. Most CSA's you can add eggs and coffee beans to your delivery.
Find a CSA in your city:


www.localharvest.org/csa/
www.jbgorganic.com/csa/


Organic Delivery Services work directly with local farmers and vendors to bring you fresh local produce and products delivered to your doorstep.  You place an order online and it's delivered to your doorstep on a certain day depending on your zip code.  If you live in Austin here are two that we have used:


www.greenling.com/home
www.farmhousedelivery.com/


Lots of grocery stores  are carrying local produce, if you don't see what you like, talk to the produce manager about carrying more local produce.  Get to know the produce manager at your grocery store, they can tell you when the produce truck will arrive and what will be on that truck.

 Have a happy, safe, healthy "green" summer!

I am no expert, just a Mom who is passionate about learning more about the relationship between food and good health.