Reasons to buy and eat local foods and Shop at Farmers Markets, Farm Shops, etc.

Supporting your Local Economy by Using Farmers Markets, Farm Shops, etc.

Buying produce from local farmers etc, from farmers markets or farm shops means your money goes a lot further. The money you give to the farmers will not only help them stay in business but help that business to grow and expand. The businesses that you help to grow and expand will then help the community, by employing more local people. Also when the farmers buy produce, organic food, etc they will buy from local suppliers which will help increase the value of your locally spent money.

Buying Food Directly From Farmers at Farmers Markets, Farm Shops, etc.

Buying locally directly from your local farmers, means you are helping your local farmers. You can buy from their farm shops, local farmers markets and local box schemes. Buying their fresh produce UK directly from them means that you cut out the middle men, who take a percentage of the money you pay. This means the farmers get more of the money which is justified because they actually grow or rear the produce.

It is Easy to Try Something New when you Buy from Farmers Markets, Farm Shops, etc.

Farmers enjoy making different things with their ingredients, they love being creative with food. This will make it easy for you to try new things. Buy them from your farm shops, farmers markets, etc.

Pick-Your-Own from Farmers Markets, Farm Shops, etc.

Picking your own food from the farm or farmers markets is great because you can select the very best ripe and ready to eat foods.

Have you Ever Heard of Food Miles?

Food miles collect when food travels, the further it is the more greenhouse gas emissions it collects, especially when the food is air-freighted. Reducing the amount of food miles is important, and this means buying locally. Research also shows that buying local produce reduces the amount of carbon dioxide emissions associated with distribution. Buying from farmers markets, farm shops etc will give you food with no or very little food miles.

Packaging is Wasteful

Both in costs and materials, packaging food is a waste, if you buy direct from a farm or a farmers market you reduce the amount of wasted paper, plastic and cardboard.

Reducing your Waste and the Farmers Waste

Food that goes to a supermarket is rejected if it is the wrong shape, colour or size, but it is perfectly good food! If you buy your produce from a farmers market, farm shop, etc the producer will include all kinds of shapes and sizes because this is how nature created it. The food sold on farmers markets etc is noting but the best, so even if it is a strange shape, size or colour it doesn't matter. Sometimes these irregular shapes etc are great!

Meet Very Nice, Like Minded People

Buying from local farms, farmers markets etc, means that you will meet nice like minded people. Its great because you actually meet the people who grow, rear or produce the food you eat, this give you even more faith in the food you eat and give to your families.

Help the Countryside to look Beautiful

The landscape in Britain has been shaped by the farming the is best suited to it. If you buy products from local farms, farmers markets, etc this helps to keep the countryside looking great. Farmers also love their fields etc and not only because it looks amazing but because it has created a living for them too.

Guidance for Farmers Markets

What is a Farmers Market?

A farmers market is a market where local growers, producers and farmers go to sell their own produce. The growers, producers and farmers all come from a defined local area and sell directly to the public. The stallholder should have grown, reared, brewed, caught, baked, pickled, smoked or processed all the products on the stall.

Certification

Certification was launched to markets that were NAFM members in June 2002. This certification is an independent verification scheme that was created to ensure all markets were working to the recommended criteria. It will become a condition of NAFM membership from January 2003.

This process was made up of market managers and developed by the Certification Working Group. During the development advice was taken from various people and bodies such as Environmental Health, Trading Standards, LACORS and other accredited agents. The process has two pilots before it was actually completed and launched.

An increase in customer confidence was reported when farmers markets certification came into play, and producers also welcomed this changes as it reassured them that the other producers were at the market were genuine.