Farmers Market

Do not laugh, but, the farmers markets in Polk County and Landrum are the place to see and be seen! It is a social gathering spot, complete with music, crafts, produce, food and more. What more do you need? Come as a stranger but leave as a friend, plus you will have some great, healthy, fresh and local food for your table.

Beneficial Foods Organic Grocery

This natural foods market carries a full array of healthy foods including fresh, organic produce, herbs and spices, jams, jellies, honey, baking goods, health and beauty products, nuts, grains, organic snack foods and environmentally friendly household cleaning products. 828-894-0737 93 Adawehi Lane

Columbus Tailgate Market

Join a plethora of vendors each Saturday for an amazing assortment of Polk County’s best homegrown produce, meat, cheese, eggs and more. See amazing arts and crafts and value added products. April through November Saturdays, 8 a.m. to noon on Courthouse Street Follow the Columbus Market on Facebook for up to date vendor and market news. Get text updates about this market by texting gro846 to 828-548-1316

Green Creek Community Market

Every third Saturday 7 a.m. to noon 828-863-2422 Green Creek Community Center

Landrum Farmers Market

Join a large group of vendors each Saturday morning for an amazing assortment of delicious homegrown produce, meat, honey, eggs and more. Coffee and biscuits are available, too, as you listen to local musicians. May through October Saturdays, 8 a.m. to noon On Trade Avenue on the grass beside the tracks from the depot to the East Rutherford Street intersection.

Manna Cabanna Local Organic Market

Looking for fresh, locally grown seasonal vegetables and herbs for your pantry? You will love shopping on the shaded deck of this old train caboose in Saluda where you get to pick out your own selection of veggies while you enjoy the wonderful mountain breezes. Carrying local eggs, meats, cheeses, honey, jams, jellies and more. Opens May through October, Wednesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The store also has a Tryon location, 17 S. Trade St. For more information, call Carol Lynn Jackson at 828-8172308.

Saluda Tailgate Market

A bustling market located up the hill, this market features food vendors from our region selling some of the best tasting and healthiest produce, meat, eggs, baked goods, and more, around. May through October Fridays, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. Off of West Main Street Get text updates about this market by texting gro237 to 828-548-1316.

Tryon Farmers Market

Tryon has been voted one of the best places in America to raise a family, and the Tryon Market is the place to feed that family. May through November Thursdays, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Tryon Depot Plaza Follow the Tryon Market on Facebook for up to date vendor and market news. Get text updates about this market by texting gro412 to 828-548-1316.

The benefits of shopping farmers markets

Farmers markets have grown in popularity in recent years. Nowadays, consumers interested in farmers markets can likely find one near their homes whether those homes are in rural communities, the suburbs or bustling cities.

People who have never before shopped farmers markets may be curious as to why many people find them so appealing. The following are a handful of benefits of shopping farmers markets that might turn market novices into full-fledged devotees. • Freshness: Many people visit farmers markets because the fruits and vegetables sold at such markets seem to taste more fresh than those sold at chain grocery stores. People are not mistaken, as the produce available at farmers markets often comes from local farms, meaning there’s no longdistance shipping necessary. Locally sourced foods need not be frozen en route to the market, meaning foods purchased there tend to taste especially fresh. • In-season foods: Some grocery stores may sell fruits and vegetables even when those foods are out of season. Farmers markets only sell in-season fruits and vegetables. To grow fruits and vegetables out-of-season, farmers may need to rely on chemicals or other unnatural methods. No such means are necessary when farmers stick to growing foods in-season. • Environmental benefits: According to the Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture, food in the United States travels an average of 1,500 miles to get to consumers’ plates. Such journeys burn natural resources, pollute the air and produce sizable amounts of trash that ultimately ends up in landfills and/or the world’s oceans. Because food sold at farmers markets is locally sourced, considerably fewer natural resources are necessary to transport the food from farm to table, and the relatively short distances the food travels translates to less air pollution. • Biodiversity: Many farmers market shoppers find unique foods not readily available at their local grocery stores. This is not only a great way to discover new and delicious foods, but also a way to promote biodiversity. • Hormone-free animal products: Farmers markets do not exclusively sell fruits and vegetables. Many farmers markets also are great places to find meats, cheeses and eggs. Animal products sold at farmers markets are typically antibiotic- and hormone-free, which is both more humane to the animals and healthier than animal products produced with hormones or antibiotics.

Farmers markets are more accessible than ever, and the benefits to shopping such markets are endless.