Community Benefits of the Farmers Market

Farmers markets are certainly nothing new. However, they have changed through the years and now the benefits of these markets reach far beyond the farmer’s pocketbook.

For an increasing number of health and quality conscious consumers, the farmers market is becoming the source of choice, for fruits, vegetables and even meats in some cases. These customers are increasingly willing to pay top prices for fresh, farm raised products and will gladly forego the convenience of the grocery store to make these purchases at the farmers market. This is great news for the farmers and local and regional gardeners who utilize these marketing venues. However, in a growing number of situations the farmers market is being developed into a weekly mini-festival that provides benefits to individual farmers and consumers but also business owners and the community as a whole.

While the spin off effects associated with farmers markets are variable, there seems to be an opportunity for communities to work together to develop these markets into viable community and economic development opportunities.

So grab your reusable shopping bag and take a stroll through one of the wonderful Farmers markets this weekend. We guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

The 17th Street Farmers Market
810 E 17th Street
520-792-2588
seventeethstreetmarket.com
M-F: 9am-7pm
Saturday: 9am-6pm
Sunday: 11am-5pm

Food Conspiracy Co-op
412 N 4th Avenue
520-624-4821
foodconspiracy.org
Daily: 8am-9pm

In addition Who’s Green? provides an entire list of the local Farmers markets.
Click here://whosgreenaz.com/2009/12/15/farmers-markets-2/