Less nutrients will remain in food the longer it sits on a shelf, in a package or in a truck. The nutrient quality of food is directly related to how long it hangs around before it is consumed.
Buying as much of your food as possible from local farmers makes sense on a lot of levels. It supports the local economy, your food is fresher, it tastes better and it has a higher nutritional quality.
I think it is worth the added effort and slightly higher cost to support our local food producers. Most of these farmers are family-owned, small businesses that care about their product and their customers. This usually translates into a higher quality product and a more enjoyable customer experience.
Speaking from a health perspective, consuming grass fed, hormone-free beef, free range chicken and eggs, wild caught fish, fruit, vegetables, and honey from your local ecosystem is tremendously advantageous. You will not be consuming antibiotic laced protein or tasteless, nutrient depleted produce. Also, your immune system will get a boost and you will suffer less from allergies if you eat local.
Buy in small quantities, often. Remember, you do not want to negate the advantages of buying local by having the food sit around in your kitchen going bad. Buy only what you need for the next few days, eat and enjoy.
ALREADY OPENED FARMERS MARKETS (IN THE AREA):
Haines Park Farmers Market, Haines Memorial State Park, Metropolitan Drive (Route 103), East Providence, (401) 222-2781, runs Wednesdays from 2 to 6p.m. and runs through October.
Hope Street Farmers Markets operates at Lippitt Park, Hope Street and Blackstone Boulevard, Providence, Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and Wednesdays, 3:30 p.m. to 6:20 p.m., June 4 through Oct. 29.
North Providence Farmers Market, located in the back parking lot of Governor John A. Notte Park, off 1675 Douglas Ave., will be open every Friday from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. through Oct. 21.
Pawtuxet Village Farmers Market will be open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. Flowering and vegetable plants will be sold, along with local bacon, honey and other goods.
Providence/ Downtown Farmers Market will be held Fridays, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., by Kennedy Plaza on Fulton Street through Oct. 28.
OPENING LATER THIS MONTH (IN THE AREA)
Providence/ Elmhurst Farmers Market will operate at Fargnoli Park, 925 Smith St., Sundays, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., June 12 through Oct. 30.
OPENING LATER IN JULY (IN THE AREA)
Broad Street Farmers Market, Algonquin House, 807 Broad St., Providence, will operate on Saturdays, 9 a.m. to noon, July 9 through Oct. 29.
Capitol Hill Farmers Market, One Capitol Hill (city side across from Providence Place Mall), Providence, opens July 21 and runs every Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., through Sept. 22.
Hartford Avenue Farmers Market opens July 6 and runs Wednesdays, 3 to 6 p.m., through Oct. 26 at the Oliver Hazard Perry Middle School, 370 Hartford Ave., Providence.
**All market information derived from Wednesday, June 1, 2011 issue of the Providence Journal.
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