Do You Know Where Your Food Comes From?

Do you know where your food comes from? Most people don't and most large food companies want to keep it that way. Day in and day out people swarm their local supermarket for all their food needs, never once thinking about how that food got there. Food doesn't just neatly show up on supermarket shelves, it has to come from somewhere. More often than not, the produce in supermarkets is shipped in from all parts of the world. This is the reason why certain fruits and vegetables are available year round even when they're out of season. At first glance this may not seem like that big of a deal, I mean who wouldn't want juicy watermelon available to them year round? But there's emissions to think about! You can do your part by buying local, farmers markets are a great choice. Not only are you supporting local farmers but you know exactly where your food comes from.

Farmers markets are the best way to get back in touch with your food is by getting your food and lucky for me Santa Cruz has some awesome farmers markets! Farmers markets are not only full of tasty and delicious food but they are also full of wonderful people. Its nice to be abel to go back to the same stand every week and see the same familiar face handing out their tasty treats. Also, they really know their stuff. If you ask them a question about their product they can go on talking to you for hours about how it was harvested and when, how the season is going, and what food will be available next week. This is a stark contrast to supermarkets where it seems the most the people that work there can tell you about the food is whether or not it is in stock.

I have heard a lot of people say they don't go to farmers markets because they are too expensive but I have always found that they are always worth a visit. I have often found fruits and veggies at the same price as the supermarket price, and in their peak season they can be even cheaper. Healthy food that supports local farmers seems like something worth the extra few dollars. When I know that the quality of food I am getting at the farmers market is so much better than store bought produce I feel like its worth the sacrifice. If it means that I have to make sacrifices else where in my life, so be it.

If you're local to Santa Cruz, there's a farmers market going on almost everyday of the week. Check it out!