My anxiety level spikes at the thought of going to a grocery store. The lines are long, and once inside, it’s like playing bumper carts with your fellow shoppers all scrambling to keep out of each other’s way. I’m so grateful to the workers who are cashiering and bagging groceries, but I worry about them at the same time.
A great alternative and one I highly recommend is shopping at your local farmer’s market.
You will be outside in fresh air;
You will buy produce harvested the day before;
You will find sustainably raised meat, fish, and eggs and fresh cheese;
You will most likely find freshly baked bread and good coffee;
You will be buying from small farmers and other independent food businesses who need your support.
I guarantee you’ll feel energized and happy after spending an hour or two in a farmer’s market community.
PRECAUTIONS TO KEEP YOU SAFE
Farmers and other vendors are taking precautions to keep you safe by offering bagged fruits and vegetables, selecting items for you, maintaining lines, and encouraging the use of apps, or credit cards instead of cash. Some are offering curbside pickup of pre-packed boxes. The farmers market at the Ferry Plaza farmers market in San Francisco run by CUESA – The Center for Urban Education For Sustainable Agriculture, has curated a “best of the market” box that you can purchase on-line and then drive-by to pick up. I bought it last Saturday, and I’ve been enjoying the bounty all week.
If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area and would like to be notified about the CUESA Farmers Market Box availability sign up here. You can also order from the individual farms that sell at the market here.
If you don’t live nearby, here is an excellent directory of farmer’s markets nationwide. And lastly, if you aren’t convinced yet, the CUESA staff wrote an excellent article about why farmer’s markets are essential for our health and well being.
