Farmers Market Sustainability

Sustainability from a culinary viewpoint is an important factor of any community because it conserves resources, enhances healthy eating, benefits farmers and local businesses. One form of sustainability is farmers markets, which relies on farms and local businesses. Farmers markets have a long history in which they have massively grown and are a huge benefit in many communities today. Farmers markets have a very long history that can date to about 5,000 years ago. In Egypt, the villagers that lived along the Nile River grew their own produce. The villagers began to meet up to sell and trade their goods; this is known as one of the very first “farmers markets”. In 1634 the first official farmers market was opened in Boston, Massachusetts. After
Farmers markets increase business. While advertising started as mostly word of mouth the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) created a National Farmers Market Directory which plays a huge role in connecting the businesses, consumers, and farmers (Neal, A. 2013). Throughout the years farmers markets have gone from an individual business to a community business, where everyone can benefit. Farmers markets today are now a hug venue where farmers, local businesses, and restaurants can have their own booth. This is a great opportunity for many businesses to sell their products and advertise by getting their name out there. Not only do businesses in the farmers markets benefit, but local businesses and restaurants in the surrounding area receive extra business because of the foot traffic (Alonzo, A. L., 2013). Some businesses even like to help other local business by buying and using their products. This includes farmers, which is said that 89% of them use local business to purchase their supplies (Farmers Markets Stimulate Local Economies, n.d.).With farmers markets, money will stay in the local
With extra money staying within a community, that community can use more money for farmland preservation and enhancements to the city and parks (Project for Public Places, 2009). These enhancements could attract more visitors to the city or town and create better locations for farmers markets. Farmers markets create a place for people to have a social gathering place, which is creating more business and getting the community involved. Farmers markets have cut out the “middle man”, so shipping and supermarkets are not necessary (Bell, R., 2015). This gives better access to fresh food and could connect consumers, farmers, and other businesses for more business opportunities. Consumers are attracted to farmers markets because they can be provided with good like fruits, vegetables, jams, baked goods, and sometimes meats, spices and other creations. Markets have even grown so much that they have attractions like educational opportunities, cooking demonstrations, tips on gardening, and live music, which helps keep the community connected even more.In conclusion, farmers markets have made a huge contribution to some societies and are a great example of