Farmer's Market Challenge

[rawlight]

After I came back from the farmer's market yesterday, it occurred to me that living in a town with four weekly farmer's markets, wouldn't it be better to support them than WF or TJs? I know that expression 'eat locally,' but it never seemed to sink in. Now it has.

However, I've never seen bananas or mangoes at any of them, for obvious reasons and bananas especially would be hard to go without. Maybe I could look at bananas and mangoes as a treat that I only get rarely, like they did with things like oranges in the olden days. (any Laura Ingalls Wilder fans here?-lol) Hmmm, but I think it would be a good experiment. I could do it for 30 days, like the raw challenge and see what I think.

[murphydoodle]

We only have one farmer's market in town and most of their produce isn't locally grown. I was so disappointed! They have tables set up and are selling produce from all over the world, just like the grocery store. I have started going to a produce store, though, and I really enjoy their food. I also like the fact that they emphasize locally grown products and they won't sell fruit/veg that are poor quality.

[lynnc72]

I've thought about this too, but bananas and mangoes are my staples. I guess I'm not there yet.

Good for you for taking on this challenge!

[spicyfull]

Can't live without those especially Bananas. I always use them in Smoothies. Usually Farmers Market sells things that are Locally Grown and these items are not locally grown. You will Miss them:confused:.

[apb1172]

Sometimes it just isn't possible to get EVERYTHING local. I would support your farmers market anyway and just get those things that you can't get from them at WF or TJ's.

[rawstrength]

I've done this before, gone totally local for a stint of time during the peak growing season, and it was awesome. But in some climates this just isn't possible year round unless you have an awesome greenhouse setup like www.rawmodel.com and some serious pre-planning (dehydrating/freezing lots of stuff from the summer).

[Susan123]

We only have one farmer's market in town and most of their produce isn't locally grown. I was so disappointed! They have tables set up and are selling produce from all over the world, just like the grocery store.

We must live in the same area of Florida!! :p I was blown away to find packaged garlic with a "made in china" label at the farmers market in addition to many other imported products. Give me a break. There were local farmers there also, but more "stores" than actual farmers, what a pity.

[*RayRay*]

I find it difficult to eat only local here in Seattle.....the farmer's market has mostly potatoes....and apples....and carrots....and more potatoes!

[Springtime]

There are no farmers markets where i live, we don't have that tradition left. What we do have is a teeny tiny all organic co-op with mostly locally produced stuff. But.
Well, if i was to eat locally the only fruit i'd be able to have for most of the year would be apples. In the late summer i guess it could work, and when i was vegan i did buy mostly locally grown stuff (all the root vegetables, potatoes, stuff like that).

When i started this i decided i had to cut back on my all-organic, no imported rules. I still try to do mostly organic, fair traded foods, but it's not financially possible for me right now to be 100% organic. If i was working full time, then i would. But now, it's very sad and i keep beating myself up for it, but i'm not all organic. Maybe 50% now, used to be 90% on cooked.

Hopefully i'll find a way to go as organic as possible when i've learnt more about what i like, want and need. But right now i do what i have to to manage staying raw.

peace

[commoncents]

Your post has inspired to give the Farmer's Markets a try. We have tons of Farmer's markets here in Northern California. In fact, you can find one every day of the week. I just found it easier to go to the my favorite store to get all my produce because they have everything, but I will try this and anything I can't find, I'll go back to my favorite spot or God forbid Whole Foods.

Thank you.

[Ilse W.]

You could always move to Costa Rica. Apparently it's a great place to live and all tropical fruits are locally grown and cheap. It would be a raw eater's paradise!

[GlimR]

If I could get my extended family to move to Costa Rica I might consider that!:D

As it is for me, we have one farmer's market and none of the "venders" are farmers, they just buy and sell produce. I think if you buy most of what you use locally you are way ahead of what most folks do or can do and supplement what you can't get there in a local store...it's all about balance.

I wouldn't go without the bananas or mangos, not if I enjoyed them.

Best wishes...you are awesome!

[RawHeaven]

However, I've never seen bananas or mangoes at any of them, for obvious reasons and bananas especially would be hard to go without. Maybe I could look at bananas and mangoes as a treat that I only get rarely, like they did with things like oranges in the olden days. (any Laura Ingalls Wilder fans here?-lol) Hmmm, but I think it would be a good experiment. I could do it for 30 days, like the raw challenge and see what I think.

I think you're onto something. The farmer's markets in the Bay Area have bananas and mangoes, I wonder why you don't in So Cal. :confused:

I had the whole series of Laura Ingalls in that big yellow box with all of the books. I bet you had it too...I was strung out on Laura. LOL.

[rawlight]

I think you're onto something. The farmer's markets in the Bay Area have bananas and mangoes, I wonder why you don't in So Cal. :confused:

I had the whole series of Laura Ingalls in that big yellow box with all of the books. I bet you had it too...I was strung out on Laura. LOL.

Hmmm, I would definitely check out the source of those bananas and mangoes. I have never seen a banana grove anywhere in So Cal, and it's hard to imagine they would grove up there.

Yeah, what I remember reading about 'the olden days' is they would get an orange at Christmas and that was just the most awesome gift!

[rawlight]

If I could get my extended family to move to Costa Rica I might consider that!:D

As it is for me, we have one farmer's market and none of the "venders" are farmers, they just buy and sell produce. I think if you buy most of what you use locally you are way ahead of what most folks do or can do and supplement what you can't get there in a local store...it's all about balance.

I wouldn't go without the bananas or mangos, not if I enjoyed them.

Best wishes...you are awesome!

Aw, shucks....:D

You know, as I think more and more about this, I am not even sure what seasonal eating is here. I mean, I've spent so much time in WF or other markets buying everything all year round for most of my life, I don't think I really understand what my region's crop cycle is :confused: That's pretty sad...but I'm sure it's pretty common.

Wednesday was enlightening because I found out that the strawberry farmer came from Cypress, about 1/2 hour from here. I lived there as an adolescent and thought all the strawberry fields had been eaten up by tract housing. Turns out there is one left!

[Ilse W.]

Rawlight, check out this website for your local farmers' market. http://www.goodveg.org/

Its a CFM, a California Certified Farmers' Market. It means that the government verified that everything that is sold is grown by the farmers that sell it. Etc.

You can find more info and markets all over CA at the CFM website http://www.cafarmersmarkets.com/index.html

[Rufassa]

I've done this before, gone totally local for a stint of time during the peak growing season, and it was awesome. But in some climates this just isn't possible year round unless you have an awesome greenhouse setup like www.rawmodel.com and some serious pre-planning (dehydrating/freezing lots of stuff from the summer).

Memphis is one of those climates. In the middle of the summer we eat all most all local but in the dead of winter it is almost all WFs. We try to only eat foods in season so we don't generally tend to lean on one food all year long with the exception of nuts and avos.

[LisaO]

I live in the Bay Area of CA also and have never seen bananas or mangos at our Farmers Market. We only have one a week, on Saturdays, but it is year round, thank goodness.
I don't see what the point would be in buying bananas at FM even if someone was selling them there. I enjoy talking to the farmers/sellers about their crop and how it is grown. I'm not interested in buying anyhting there that isnt locally grown, organic and raw.
Just today I was drilling the lady I buy raw almonds from. She promises me their raw(not pasteurized) and I'm sure I drive her crazy but I'm a good customer :)
I love the idea of only eating locally grown produce but I'm far to spoiled and have to ease into that one.
Oh Laura Ingalls, I love her. I bought the DVD's and have made my boys watch the shows. Good stuff in those shows.

[rawlight]

Rawlight, check out this website for your local farmers' market. http://www.goodveg.org/

Its a CFM, a California Certified Farmers' Market. It means that the government verified that everything that is sold is grown by the farmers that sell it. Etc.

You can find more info and markets all over CA at the CFM website http://www.cafarmersmarkets.com/index.html

Hey thanks. I am familiar with the ones on Sunday and Friday. I haven't been to the one on Thursdays and I go one they don't mention, on Wednesdays. Can you believe it....we have *four* weekly farmer's markets in Long Beach. What a great town!

[Aasyah]

Sometimes it just isn't possible to get EVERYTHING local. I would support your farmers market anyway and just get those things that you can't get from them at WF or TJ's.

I agree with apb1172 said. Also talk with your local farmers market vendors and let them know of the items you would like to purchase and if they can supply them. :)