For those of us who are battling the time crunch and those for us whom access to fresh food is an issue

In our neighborhoods, farmers markets are a really important, valuable resource that we have to support.

Gather your family or a few good friends, and take a Saturday morning stroll around the local farmers market. The Farmers market experience is one of simple goodness where produce, meat, and dairy farmers offer their wares straight from their lands and into your hands. In addition to peak produce, many markets offer flowers by the bunch, handmade crafts, and live local entertainment. Today reasons to buy local include COST (remove the middlemen and higher mark-ups), TASTE (foods taste better when eaten in their peak season), and VARIETY. You’ll feel good knowing that you’ve selected fresh ingrediants and are supporting your local community.

First Lady Michelle Obama is not the only one looking to feed her family freshly picked produce. The “Farm Fresh,” “Food Patriotism” or “Real Food Movement” is a growing food trend gaining in popularity across the nation . Concerns about our nation's health, economy and the environment have helped to propel the movement with more and more people turning to local farms and farmers markets as a viable alternative to the grocery store. Here’s how to get started.


CHANGING THE WAY AMERICA EATS, ONE BITE AT A TIME

Now Southern Living has given us SOUTHERN LIVING FARMERS MARKET COOKBOOK which celebrates eating locally, eating fresh and eating by the season. Included :

• TIPS— from the farm and the kitchen, for Shopping at your local Farmers Market

• SEASONAL PRIMER-- with tips on selecting, storing, preparing and cooking a variety of fruits, vegetables and herbs.

• WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU GET THERE – go early, go often, talk to farmers, take your kids, bright is best, ,something old, something new, etc …