Healthy local foods the stars of summer farmers markets
There’s good health nestled among those ruby-red radishes and sleek scallions.
Nutritious local fresh vegetables and fruits are the main attraction at farmers markets — Pueblo has two such produce extravaganzas — but shopping the markets also benefits growers and the local economy. Toss in the exercise you might get during a trip to the HARP market or walking to and from either market on a morning work break, and an all-round healthy outing results.
The best reason to frequent farmers markets is obvious: Vegetables and fruits are good for you, says Christina Hopewell, a public health educator at the Pueblo City-County Health Department, who’s also coordinator of the local Urban Garden Approach to Reduce Disease and Empower Neighborhoods and Schools.
“Fresh fruits and vegetables have antioxidants and phytonutrients that have been shown to decrease the risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity and some cancers,” Hopewell says. “A lot of fresh fruits and vegetables are very high in soluble fiber that lowers ldl or ‘bad’ cholesterol, which decreases the risk for stroke. These include blueberries, carrots and celery.”
Fruits and vegetables also have polyphenols, plant chemicals that give the foods color and may provide some protection against neuro-degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia. Apples, raspberries, grapes and strawberries contain these chemicals.
“The greater the color, the greater the health benefits,” Hopewell says.
The age of produce at a farmers market is a big plus, too, she says.
“In the U.S., most produce is harvested a week before it hits supermarket shelves and can lose vital nutrients during that time. That’s not true for a farmers market,” where the produce might have been harvested early that morning or the night before.
Most farmers markets are seasonal, Hopewell says, and fruits and vegetables eaten in season often taste better. That means children or finicky eaters might try a food they previously disliked and decide it tastes good after all. The family cook might then add this fruit or vegetable to her or his repertoire and experiment with new recipes, ensuring that more vitamins and minerals come to the dinner table.
Buying locally grown fruits and veggies also reduces the energy required to get them to shoppers; supermarket produce may have been trucked across the country or transported from other countries. And buying locally can mean the food hasn’t undergone significant processing.
Economic health is another positive aspect of buying locally.
“It supports local farmers and the local economy,” Hopewell says. “It keeps money closer to home. You’re financing people who live close to you rather than a large national corporation.”
At a farmers market, shoppers often have increased access to foods grown without pesticides and herbicides, Hopewell says. The produce might not be certified organic, but the grower may have tried to reduce the amount of chemical pesticides and herbicides used — and shoppers can ask about it.
“Most local producers are passionate about their products,” she says. “At a market, you can ask questions about how the food was grown, its health benefits; the growers might hand out healthy recipes.
“It really provides producers the opportunity to showcase crops they can’t produce in supermarket quantities; niche products. So the shopper can create healthy plates with more than just fruits and veggies (by choosing) healthy dairy, grain, protein products like grass-fed beef, or non-GMO foods.
“The market can be a one-stop shop,” Hopewell says.