Did you read last weeks post that discussed 10 benefits to visiting your farmers market today? The order of which you read these 2 posts does not matter but do spend time reading both. They are really important!
If you have any more benefits to add please leave a comment below. I’ll consider doing another post if there are enough new benefits. These 2 posts give us 17 combined!
1. Support your local economy
If we all focus on improving our own local economies then the world economy would begin to turn around. I’m not saying to ignore everything outside your local area. I’m suggesting that we change our focus.
As far as food goes, I think it’s best that we consume at least 80% of our calories from local farms (or your own backyard!). This action has an infinite amount of benefits and is something that I will be thinking about immensely on top of discussing with other awesome humans while I am walking across all 50 states of America.
When you buy grass-fed meat from a local, small scale farmer you are supporting your local economy and the global economy.
Win for the world my friend.
2. Learn how your food was grown
When you shop from your local grocer you probably have no idea how that food got there. Think about it for a second. How is Wheaties cereal (I used to think this was so nourishing!) created? Do you have any idea? What about that low fat yogurt? The skim milk? Do you have even the slightest idea?
No. You don’t.
Don’t you see what’s wrong here? You literally are what you eat. And you are what you eat - eats. Anyone who denies this is lying.
When you go to your local farmers market and you see all that colorful produce, you know exactly where it came from. It probably came from the farm that the farmer who is selling it lives on.
I know where the grass-fed butter I buy from Rakowski Farms came from. I can go visit the farm anytime I want (after setting something up of course) and learn exactly how that butter was made. Whoever produced it is more than happy to teach me.
But those boxes of cereal that Americans eat on a regular basis? Not a damn chance. Good luck learning about the entire process. I promise you won’t find out from start to finish because you will be so pissed off!
3. Greater opportunity to buy quality organ meats
I love this one. I’ll admit that I struggle to down liver. But I’m getting there. I cooked up a pound just a few weeks ago and ate about half of it over a few days. I did not follow a recipe. I just cooked it on my own.
At the Fulton Street Farmers Market every human being has the opportunity to buy any organ meat they want. Want some brains? A few farmers will be more than happy to save one for you. Or, just buy liver, hearts and gizzards, etc. right there since they regularly have it on hand.
It’s high quality too, from animals that live vibrant, healthy lives.
And you know what? Organ meats are not only the most nutrient dense foods on the planet but they are the least expensive too.
Yea. You have no excuse to eating real, nourishing food.
4. Greater opportunity to buy quality raw, whole milk
Even if it’s illegal to buy raw milk in a state, you can still easily get away with buying raw milk in that state. You just need to buy a cow share. There are a few farmers that do this in the Grand Rapids, MI area. I have yet to try whole, raw milk myself, but I know I will someday. I have tried several cheeses made from whole, raw milk.
If you can tolerate whole, raw milk, then I strongly suggest you seek out a source. Give it a shot.
Do you drink raw milk?
5. Chances of buying fake food become nearly zero
At the market I go to, I estimate that over 95% of the food is real. It’s “approved” if you eat Paleo, Primal, WAPF. It’s real. I know I am very fortunate that this is the case but I would estimate that MOST farmers markets around the world sell mostly real food. Probably over 80% on average is a conservative number.
With this you can…
6. Discover what real food is
If you are confused as hell as to what is real and what is not, just go to your local farmers market! If you are still unsure then visit 10 random farmers markets. Then you will have a fantastic idea as to what is real and what is not.
Look at the labels on the food you buy at the farmers market. What does it tell you?
Oh wait… there are none!
7. Vote better with your dollar
How do you make a difference in the world? With your dollar. Or whatever currency you are using.
When you buy a donut you are voting for continued production of donuts. When you buy a pound of grass-fed meat then you are voting for the continued production of grass-fed meat.
This is the easiest and possibly the best way to send an independent message.
If the sales of soda pop began to decline and eventually dropped to below $100 a day around the world, there would be a massive change. Soda pop would go exctinct.
If grass-fed beef sales continue to rise to the point where it’s sold out everywhere, the price may jump temporarily, but smart humans would take advantage of this trend and produce grass-fed cattle themselves.
It’s how the world works folks.
Vote with your dollar. It’s how you can begin changing the world right this very moment!
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