Farmer’s Markets and CSAs
National Farmers Market Week is August 5 – 11. We celebrate and recommend that you take advantage of locally grown produce, meat, cheese and other food products offered at your local farmers markets.
If you’re looking to make healthier choices, now is the perfect time to get started. With local farmers markets and CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) programs in full swing, summer is a prime opportunity to take advantage of a wealth of healthy produce.
Where Can I Go?
Hudson, WI
Hudson’s Farmers Market is open from June – October at Faith Community Church on 777 Carmichael Road on Saturdays 8am – Noon. Read more
River Falls, WI
River Falls’ Farmers Market is located by Dick’s Fresh Market on 1121 South Main Street. It is open June – October on Tuesdays 3pm – 6pm and Saturdays 8am – 12pm. Come and support our local farmers. Read more
Baldwin, WI
Baldwin’s Main Street Farmers Market is held from June – October in Bailey Park (east end of Main St.). Every Saturday from 9am – 1pm, the market will boast 10-15 local vendors providing fresh picked produce, locally grown beef, hand-crafted items, bakery items, fresh cut flowers, potted plants, Amish goods and so much more. Read more
Why do Farmers Markets provide a Healthy Choice?
Some people eat a healthy and varied diet, buying their produce from a traditional grocery store. And while this is sufficient, the produce you’ll get from a farmers market or your CSA is fresh and nutritious. Typically, produce is picked before it is ripe and subsequently spends weeks in a warehouse and in transit before finally landing on your plate. This can cause the produce to lose nutritional benefits. With a farmers market or CSA, you know your food was recently harvested at the peak of freshness. Therefore, the nutrient density hasn’t been compromised and you reap the full benefits of your healthy choices.
Eating the Rainbow
A farmers market can be intimidating to even the most devoted vegetable consumers. With a dizzying array of produce, much of it unfamiliar, it can be hard to know what to purchase.
Try to eat the rainbow by choosing fruits and vegetables in a variety of colors. Think of each color as a new tool in your nutritional tool belt. While red, blue and purple hued fruits and vegetables are reputed to lower your risk for heart disease and stroke, the carotenoids in orange and yellow vegetables will help to preserve your vision and immune function. Dark leafy greens including kale, chard, collards and mustard greens, among others, are low in calories and an excellent source of vitamins including A, C and K. Each new color you put in your basket is another opportunity to keep your body in top form.
Take a trip to your local farmers market to explore what healthy food choices you can make. You can also get to know the vendors and be assured that the food you put on the table is naturally ripened and responsibly grown. You’ll reap the nutritional benefits and may even discover something new.
