green living

THE BOUNTY OF FARMERS MARKETS

Buying Local Boosts Health, the Economy and the Planet

by Sandra Yeyati

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Throughout the nation, an estimated 8,000 farmers markets offer some of the freshest food available anywhere. Often open on weekend mornings or select weeknights, these nutritional meccas allow local farmers to sell their fruits, vegetables, eggs, meat and dairy directly to consumers, thereby providing an attractive business channel for them. “If you buy direct from a farmer, 97 cents of every dollar goes home with the farmer, whereas if you buy from a traditional grocery store, only 17 cents makes its way back to that farmer,” says Janie Maxwell, executive director of the Illinois Farmers Market Association.

Dollars spent at farmers markets boost local economies. “When farmers make money, they buy seeds at their local co-op or purchase tools from a nearby hardware store, which infuses economic capital into rural communities,” says Katie Myhre, technology research manager at the Farmers Market Coalition. “If we can focus on growing the capacity of our farms within our region and building consumer habits around what we can grow locally, that’s going to help our region become more resilient.”

This type of localized commerce offers environmental benefits, too. Produce from a local source carries a much smaller carbon footprint than one that travelled halfway across the country. “Farmers markets are uniquely positioned to encourage environmentally responsible farming by providing a solid economic platform to climate-positive farmers that are taking care of land and water quality,” Myhre asserts.

According to a study commissioned by the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance, 72 percent of consumers know “nothing” or

“very little” about farming or ranching. Farmers markets facilitate ongoing dialogues between growers and consumers, serving as valuable educational sites. “Getting to know your farmer offers you an opportunity to ask questions directly to the person growing the product and make a choice accordingly, whereas when you go into grocery stores, you’re fed a lot of advertising and greenwash labeling with terms that you don’t understand,” Myhre says, adding, “While many small farmers decide not to go through the costly United States Department of Agriculture organic certification process, their farming practices are often just as clean or even more so, and at a farmers market, consumers are able to look the farmer in the eye and learn about their growing methods.”

Maxwell appreciates the opportunity to make an educated choice. “As a consumer, you have to decide what is your highest value. For me, the most compelling reason to shop at a farmers market is the peak, inseason, quality of the food, the incredible taste and nutrition that you get because it was freshly harvested and didn’t have to be transported over long distances. The number of people that touch your food is significantly lower at a farmers market, so there’s less opportunity for it to be mishandled or cross-contaminated. It

carries the name of the producer on it. This is their life’s work, and their reputation is on that label. I sense that there’s a real desire to ensure great quality and safety.”

Regularly buying fresh food from a farmers market allows families to get into the habit of eating in season. “Cooking seasonally allows you the opportunity to capture the incredible flavor profiles of what’s fresh. It has just been picked and tastes incredible—very different from the flavors you get from grocery store products that were produced someplace else, maybe even weeks or months ago,” Maxwell explains.

Myhre concurs: “If we can build our habits, cooking preferences and skills around those seasonal rhythms, that’s a really beautiful benefit. It’s awesome for me to know that these herbs were harvested yesterday. There’s also a wide diversity of products. You’re not going to see 12 varieties of squash at your big-box grocery store. I’m always surprised by what I see, and it’s a really fun experience as somebody who loves food. Taking home really great-tasting products that were produced with so much care is a central benefit.”

For many, the farmers market is a community gathering. In addition to local growers, they often include cottage food vendors offering homemade jams and jellies, baked goods, sauces, preserved and pickled items and other delicious foods, as well as arts and crafts vendors and musical entertainment. “The wonderful thing about the farmers market is that it leads with joy,” Myhre says. “It’s fun. You don’t invite friends to the grocery store, but you might meet your friends for coffee at the farmers market.”

Sandra Yeyati, J.D., is a professional writer and editor. Reach her at SandraYeyati@ gmail.com.

Mad Alice Kombucha Supports Local Farmers

Kombucha is an ancient probiotic beverage created by fermenting sweetened tea with a SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast) that is naturally occurring in the gut. When people drink kombucha regularly, they may experience benefits beyond gut health, like reduced stress.

Mad Alice kombucha is a fermented tea made with locally grown herbs, fruits and vegetables. Locally sourced food has more nutrients than food stored and transported over long distances, creates less waste and carbon emissions and contributes to the health of the local and regional economy. Mad Alice shows that it’s possible for producers, consumers and the planet to coexist in harmony and has a mission to share natural nourishment and the importance of supporting local farmers and the overall community.

Find Mad Alice kombucha on Facebook (@real madalice) and Instagram (@madalicekombucha) pages or email madalicekombucha@outlook.com. Located at the Coastal Alabama Farmers and Fishermens Market every Saturday from 9 to 2.

Coastal Alabama Farmers & Fishermens Market goal is to provide local fruits, vegetables, seafood and non-certifiable agricultural products through direct marketing for the public and commercial establishments in an enjoyable place.

As a local farmers market, committed to Baldwin County’s community and agriculture, its mission is to promote healthy foods from the bounty of the Gulf Coast and make them readily available to the area. Vendors such as bakers, beekeepers with honey, artisans, farmers and fishermen provide fresh, highquality produce, seafood and other delicious foods to bring home to families.

Buy Local, Eat Fresh, Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and meet our Foley farmers market family.

Location: Coastal Alabama Farmers and Fishermens Market, 20733 Miflin Rd., Foley. Visit CoastalAlabamaMarket.com. Call or email Alescia Forland, 251-7094469 or foleymarketmgr@gmail.com. To become a vendor, go to CoastalAlabamaMarket.com/ vendors/vendor-application. See ad, page 27.

Healthful Observations from a Health Food Store Manager

by Kenny Hardin

The month of March in southeastern Alabama is worth the wait. With azaleas, baby blue skies and 70-degree temperatures, it’s no wonder snowbirds flock here.

March also brings to realization the results of those resolutions set at the beginning of the year. Some folks are well into a routine that has yielded success; some have given up. But it’s never too late to start working on health goals, and every day is a new opportunity to start a more healthconscious lifestyle.

Five to ten years ago in health food stores, the March goal was attaining a beach body. These days, the trend is toward immune protection. There are many ways to go about strengthening and maintaining a healthy immune system. The simplest and often most effective method of improving health is eating clean foods. At Virginia’s and Fairhope Health Foods it is common for customers to request a pill, preferably a daily one, because it’s quick and easy. However, there are better options that are edible and just as simple as taking one pill.

One great product is Spirulina. Emerald green in pigmentation, Spirulina is a highly nutritious species of algae, characterized as blue-green. This superfood is rich in vitamins that boost the body’s white blood cells and produce antibodies that attack and eradicate viruses and bacteria. It is retailed as a loose powder in tablets or capsules and as liquid tinctures. There has been a growth in Spirulina sales lately as people are discovering it to be an excellent addition to their supplementation.

Honey is one more great immune booster, along with being a tasty snack or complement to many savory and sweet dishes. Fairhope and Virginia’s Health Foods carry several varieties of honey. Some are local while others, such as Manuka, are harvested from around the world. Sourced out of Australia and New Zealand, Manuka has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It can be ingested and applied topically. When taken internally, it can remedy the effects of esophageal damage caused by certain digestive disorders. Externally, when applied to topical wounds such as cuts and exposed sores, Manuka can expedite connective tissue repair. Like Spirulina, Manuka is becoming increasingly popular.

Aloe Vera is another food available at Fairhope and Virginia’s Health Foods that can do wonders for the body. It’s available in whole leaf form in the produce section or as a drink in both juice and gel varieties. Rich in polysaccharides (carbohydrates such as starch that assist in binding sugars together), Aloe Vera is an antioxidant, digestive aid, immune booster, pH balancer and cosmetic aid for skin moisturizing in both dermal and subdermal healing. Both Fairhope and Virginia’s Health Foods would like to welcome and assist anyone who is incorporating natural and alternative lifestyle changes. It has been said that you are what you eat. Whether it’s an apple a day or drinking more water, come to Fairhope or Virginia’s Health Foods where we strive to provide the healthiest foods and nutrition options for Mobile area and Eastern Shore customers.

Location: Fairhope Health Foods 280 Eastern Shore Shopping Center in Fairhope. Virginia’s Health Foods 3055A Dauphin St. in Mobile. For more information call Fairhope Health Foods, 251-928-0644 or Virginia’s Health Foods, 251-479-3952 or visit VA-FairhopeHealthFoods.com. See ad, page 27.