There are so many awesome benefits to shopping at your local farmer’s market. It’s such a fun weekend activity and the food is so delicious and healthy. Now that spring is here, we are trying to get the majority of our groceries from the market each week. We haven’t gotten our garden set up yet, so this is the next best thing!

By shopping at the market, we will be placing a larger emphasis on eating lots of fruits and vegetables this summer. We won’t be tempted to buy packaged foods at the grocery stores. We also try to get most of our meats from the market since we can talk with the owner’s and get an idea of what their farm is like.

Here are my top 5 reasons to shop at your local farmer’s market this summer. Try and see how long you can go without having to go to the grocery store!

1. You eat seasonally

By shopping at the local farmer’s market, you’re eating foods that are in season where you live. Most farmer’s markets have a rule in place where the food has to be grown or made within a certain distance from the market. If it’s at the local farmer’s market, chances are, it’s in season! You’re also eating food from your environment, where it has perfectly-created nutrients for your specific climate and lifestyle. This means, you’re giving your body exactly what it needs.

2. You shop locally

By shopping at the farmer’s market, you are supporting local farmers and small businesses. There is often more there than just produce and it’s always fun to look at all the products available. At the market we go to, we like to get sheep’s cheese, local bee pollen, kimchi, and kombucha. These are all local products that are made close by. We get to know the owner’s and it’s so much nicer to know exactly where the food you’re enjoying is coming from.

3. The food tastes better

Chances are that the food at the market is a lot fresher than the food you would find at the grocery store. So many fruits and vegetables have a completely different taste at the market compared to the grocery store. Tomatoes, for example, are something that I don’t even like to eat when they aren’t fresh and in-season. Once you start to enjoy market fresh foods, you may never want to switch back!

4. It’s more nutritious

The food at the farmer’s market has often been picked at it’s peak level of ripeness and there’s definitely no artificial ripening. This means that it’s full of nutrients that are lost in transit in grocery store foods. Compare the vibrant colours from the foods found at the market with foods at the grocery stores and it’s easy to tell which are more nutritious. The vivid colours show just how full of nutrients it really is.

It’s also a great spot to stock up on local honey or bee pollen so that it has the right components for allergy protection wherever you live.

5. It’s fun!

We love going to the farmer’s market every weekend. It’s such a fun activity and it’s a great way to get outside. It’s also way more fun than going to grocery store to get your groceries. You can bring the whole family, plus the dog, and it’s a great way to get together and visit with friends and family. There’s also so much variety at the markets that it’s such a great spot to try new things. Samples are always fun too!

Do you shop at your local farmer’s market?