In Celebration: National Farmers Market Week
This week is National Farmers Market Week and the timing couldn’t be better, as we celebrate the local food marketplaces strengthening communities across the US, we’d also like to highlight one incredible project that was launched here in Boston last week after being 10 years in the making.
Last Thursday was the grand opening of Boston Public Market, a permanent year-round market that will sell all local goods to consumers. As the first public market of its kind here in the US, this groundbreaking project should set the standard and be the impetus to launch of an array of food initiatives across every Boston neighborhood.To add to that excitement, our freight farmers, Corner Stalk, are one of the 38 vendors that will be selling at the year-round market!
Shawn and Connie Cooney have been growing with Freight Farms since the fall of 2013, operating five Leafy Green Machines in the city of Boston. As a vendor at the market, this husband and wife duo will be bringing a variety of specialty local greens to customers all year, even throughout Boston's harsh winters. This is monumental, and we couldn't be more excited for their success!
Why are farmers markets so important?
Well, the obvious answer is that they bring the freshest local produce directly to consumers, but there are many more reasons to celebrate farmers markets! Below are just a few:
Stimulate the local economy
Improve the health and wellbeing of communities
Support the livelihood of our local farmers
Across the country, more evidence is surfacing to support each one of these facts. Check out this great infographic from the National Farmers Market Coalition to learn more.
If you have a chance this week, head out to your local farmers market and celebrate the people who grow your food! Not sure where to find one in your area? Take a peek at this USDA list of all the local farmers markets in the US.