Farmers' Market

Have you ever been to a farmers' market? If your answer is no, then you are truly missing out! A farmers' market is a way that farmers from around the community are able to sell their produce and goods to community members on a weekly basis. Many delicious foods, goods, and plants can be bought at the farmers' market and the best thing, they are all home grown, meaning that you as the consumer have the ability to trace exactly where your purchase is coming from. 

Outdoor's Farmers' Market with Multiple Vendors 

Farmers' markets consist of individual vendors, mostly farmers, who set up booths, either indoors or outdoors to sell meat products, vegetable's and fruits, potting plants, and sometimes prepare food and drinks. Farmers' markets add value to a community, and have the ability to join the country folk and the town folk together. There are also certain benefits included with farmers' markets, such as: 

• Farmers/producers sell directly to consumers, minimizing profit loss by circumventing the middleman.
• Consumers get to buy direct from the farmer/producer.
• Consumers can obtain organic fruits and vegetables from Certified Organic farmers
• Consumers get to enjoy fresh, seasonally-grown food that was produced within a drivable distance from their homes.
• More capital remains in the consumers’ community.

Vegetables at the Farmers' Market 

Farmers' markets take place worldwide and reflect their area's culture and economy. The size of a farmers' market can range from just a few stalls, with a minimum amount of vendors, all the way up to numerous city streets long. Advocates of Farmers markets state that the markets help farmers stay in business as well as preserve natural resources. Wholesale prices farmers get for produce are much lower than what they can get selling retail. Farmers who sell direct to the public without going through a middle man get a better price. Preservation of farmland is important for the health of the environment and water supply is a widely held view among people in developed countries. Sustainably managed farms preserve soil and clean water, and create a safe and clean place for habitat's of wildlife. Farmers markets are a traditional way of selling agriculture and home manufactured products. A weekly market day is a part of normal life in villages and town squares throughout the world. A good way for a traveler to sample local foods and learn about local cultureis to attend market day, especially when it coincides with a festival, such as the Ponoka Stampede in Ponoka.   

Raspberries Purchased From the Farmers' Market 

In the Ponoka Farmers' market, the most delicious homegrown raspberries can be purchased, trust me I know this from experience. The Ponoka farmers' market runs every Wednesday morning, and is held in the Ponoka arena. Unlike a grocery store, buying produce from the farmers' market ensures consumers that their product is healthy, fresh, and safe because it was grown locally by another community member. 

Ponoka Farmers' Market 

When I was in Europe this past March, there was a farmers' market on most of the plaza's, which mostly sold vegetables and fruits. This goes to show that farmers' markets are truly an international technique. If you have never had the opportunity to attend a farmers' market, trust me, your missing out! If you are unsure of a local farmers' market near you, just type in the town that you are looking for, accompanied with the words farmers' market, into the search bar on the Internet! By choosing to buy goods from the farmers' market, you are supporting your local farmers around your community, and ideally giving back and benefiting your own community, so who wouldn't wanna support the farmers' market?!

Linked below are a few websites that give a bit more background on what a farmers' market is, and what specific countries are doing to promote them within the community. 

Farmers' Markets Canada  

History on Farmers' Markets

Farmers' Market Blog

-Jess