National Farmers Market Week 2024
With National Farmers Market Week coming up, it’s important to know why spending time at the market is better for your health! While nutrition does play a large role, it is not the only dimension of well-being. Physical, intellectual, emotional, social, spiritual, vocational, financial, and environmental are the eight components of overall wellness. A change in any dimension can alter your quality of life, so prioritizing a balance of each of these components can help you live life to the fullest! By shopping at the market, you can find value in multiple of these dimensions.
Physical: From fruits and vegetables to seafood, meat, and dairy, there are plenty of fresh, local food options available to buy at the market. Many foods found at the market can be used to make a meal at home. This means you are consuming less added sugars, sodium, and fats, compared to pre-packaged meals. Additionally, local produce has a higher concentration of nutrients because it is typically picked at peak ripeness within a day or two of being sold at the market.
Social: Red Stick Farmers Market is a community event where everyone is welcome! With people everywhere you look week after week, you can connect with the vendors who grow and produce your food, BREADA staff at the market info booth, new people you meet, and old friends you haven’t seen in a while.
Emotional: With people gathering together comes positive attitudes. The farmers market is bound to make your Thursday or Saturday mornings better. Stop by to enjoy fresh food, live music, and food samplings.
Financial: Everyone’s financial situation is unique, and living within your means can help to lower your stress levels. Farmers only bring in-season produce to the market, which tends to be more affordable. BREADA accepts SNAP cards and helps to stretch your food dollar further by matching dollar-for-dollar up to $50 to be spent on farm-fresh foods!
Environmental: The environment plays a role in human health, and human actions can impact the environment. When you eat local foods, less distance is traveled to get the food to you. Therefore, less fossil fuels are emitted into the environment. Additionally, bringing your own reusable bag to the market can reduce the amount of plastic bags that end up in landfills.
Join us in celebrating National Farmers Market Week alongside other markets nationwide. Be sure to stop by the Red Stick Farmers Market downtown on Saturday, August 3rd to kick off this week and thank your local farmers!
