#fruitpatoot

IT’S STRAWBERRY SEASON, and I miss being able to simply walk from my dorm to the center of campus to buy a three pack for $5 at the Trojan Farmer’s Market.

Here are 5 reasons why you should buy from farmer’s markets:

1. Freshness: Farmer’s market fruits and veggies aren’t sprayed with chemicals to make them ripen faster, then picked before they are fully ripe, and shipped long distances to supermarkets where they sit in storage. instead, they are ripened naturally, and sent straight from the farm to you!

2. Protect the environment: Since the produce is local, it isn’t being transported thousands of miles by huge trucks, which use fossil fuels and contribute to air pollution (boo). Also, if it’s organically grown, it’s not sprayed with pesticides that can pollute water and land (woo).

3. Price: YES it costs less to buy your produce at farmer’s markets than at supermarkets. If you don’t believe me read this article: http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2011/05/the-farmers-market-myth/238661/

4. Support your local farmers: they’re really nice people who can give you the details about their product and might be willing to give you a discount if you ask ;)

5. Eat with the seasons, dude: Fruits and veggies are sold seasonally at farmer’s markets. When you buy from farmer’s markets you reconnect with nature, and the earth’s cycles.