It is National Farmers Market Week! Here in the Greater Susquehanna Valley, we are fortunate to have some great markets including the Lewisburg Farmers Market on Wednesdays and the Selinsgrove Farmers Market on Saturdays. We also have a tremendous variety of producers of fruits, vegetables, poultry, meat, and dairy products. The Chamber’s Agriculture Committee has made it a point to support these farmers and promote the value they add to our communities. We invite you to attend our upcoming Agriculture Committee meeting, held August 16th at 12:30 pm at the Lewisburg Farmers Market.
Support for farmers is often viewed as a patriotic duty. We recognize farmers as the backbone of this nation, and in Pennsylvania, one in every ten jobs is supported by Agriculture. However, the recent pandemic showed major shortfalls within our food supply chain. Labor shortages, fluctuating demand, and food safety concerns were just a few of the issues that plagued our systems. One simple habit change could help to reduce the stress on our food supply chain: Buying Local Produce.
While we may claim to support our American farms, our shopping habits tell another story. If your grapes came in a plastic bag or box, they are most likely not local and probably not even from us US. The logistics required to get imported products to your grocery store have many more fail points than that of a local farmer bringing his/her produce to market. We say that we support our local farmers, but why don't we purchase their products? The common explanation is price, but I would argue that comparing strawberries from Mexico and strawberries from Middleburg is like comparing apples and, um, oranges. Quality should have a strong influence on value, and in this case, there is no comparing the quality of local produce to that of imported produce.
Research has shown that fresh from the farm strawberries are nutritionally far superior to those shipped a long distance -- be that California or Mexico. Local produce is picked ripe and sold fresh at its nutritional peak, but many of us will opt for the chemically ripened and nutritionally lacking alternative that was picked weeks ago. Flavorless by comparison, but cheaper and available year-round. This goes for so many of our products that could be sourced from local producers but are instead purchased en masse for convenience from growers thousands of miles away.
In addition to considerations like taste and nutritional quality, buying local produce reduces other inputs like shipping, packaging, and warehousing, which all include overhead costs that mean less of your dollar goes to the actual farmer. By cutting out the middleman, you are not only getting a better product, but you are supporting a local family, the preservation of their farm, and the sustained connection between the grower and the eater. Subsequently, the dollars spent locally create significantly more economic activity than do dollars spent at big box stores.
So, this week, make it a priority to connect with and purchase from a local farmer. It is not as difficult as it sounds. The easiest way would be to attend a local market like the Lewisburg Farmers Market or Selinsgrove Farmers Market. There you will have an opportunity to meet the producers, try their goods, and shop local. It is also just a fantastic way to connect with your community. If you can’t make it to the market, try to shop in the “Local” section of your local grocery store. I promise you won’t be disappointed!
For questions or comments about the Chamber’s Agricultural efforts, or to RSVP to the committee meeting on August 16th, please email zstotter@gsvcc.org.
National Farmers Market Week
