Farmers Market Challenge (Participation Requested)

in #story8 years ago (edited)


Most of us are aware of the dangers that factory farming pose to both our well-being and the health of our environment. Animal cruelty, pollution, exposure to carcinogenic chemicals, antibiotics, and other pharmaceutical drugs (in both food and water), are just some of the risks and concerns.

Unfortunately, here in the US, many of the agribusiness corporations that profit heavily from this toxic food supply chain are also continually lobbying our government to further relax rules and regulations to make the situation even worse. One of the favorite tactics of the agribusinesses is to attempt to bastardize how the FDA defines terms like “free-range” and “organic” with the goal of making the labels nearly worthless or to completely do away with labeling requirements for things like genetically modified (GMO) foods. If they are successful, consumers will have no idea what they’re buying. Considering our government and FDA so heavily influenced by these powerful corporations, how can we have more assurance that the food we’re buying is safe and healthy for ourselves and our children?

One great option is to buy from local farmers markets and there’s no easier time to do this than in the spring and summer.

Most often, Farmers Markets are comprised of small local producers that you can research or even visit in person. My wife and I are firm believers of “voting with our dollars” and have gotten to know many of the vendors in our Farmers Market throughout the years and know a lot about their integrity, beliefs, and practices.


Fun fact: Locally produced honey has been shown to help alleviate allergy symptoms.

Buying locally grown, non-GMO organic fruits/vegetables, free-range chicken and pork, as well as grass-fed beef/dairy allows us to support the ideals that are better for ourselves and the planet we all share.

Locally sourced produce is harvested later in the growing cycle than conventionally raised supermarket produce because the shelf life doesn’t have to be as long. The meat, eggs, and dairy found in our farmer’s market typically come from animals that are treated much more humanely. The animals have better diets and an overall higher quality of life. All adds up to healthier food that tastes so much better. You might be surprised how affordable farmers markets can be as well.


No, this woman wasn't doing the Russian dance...it just looks like it.

Sometimes we just need a little nudge to encourage us to change our habits and behaviors (myself included.) This is why @fairytalelife and I decided to come up with this little challenge for Steemians this spring and summer.

If you have a local Farmers Market visit it this summer and write a post about it, using the category, farmersmarket-challenge. Let me know about the post after you publish it and I will, personally, RESTEEM it. Have a relaxing, healthy, and Steemy summer!


Amstel is quite offended by this sign.


*I am an American novelist, poet, traveler, and crypto-enthusiast. If you’ve enjoyed my work please sign up for my author newsletter at my website. Newsletter subscribers will receive exclusive updates and special offers and your information will never be sold or shared.

Eric Vance Walton - Media

www.ericvancewalton.net

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Challenge accepted! This is a great idea for the Steemit community.

Wonderful! Thanks, I can't wait to see your post!

Hello my friend ... Happy day ... a beautiful story

You will definately be seeing a post from me. I love the farmers market. Healthy natural food at decent prices and there is no better way to promote buying locally!

Wonderful! You're right, vote with your dollars!

I love farmers market, always so fresh and organic. Theres so many around where I live. It comes in handy since I cook very single day. Nice post Eric, the hard work you put into it really shows :) upvoted!

Thank you very much! Eating local and organic is such an investment in your future!

I grew up on a farm. I love the idea of a Farmers market, local butcher, and just getting back to clean eating. no preservatives.

I love farmer's markets. Also small butcher shops, farm shares, and my dad's garden!

Yes, local is always good but growing your own is best!

I love this idea. I'll definitely be making a post about the Worthington (Ohio) Farmers Market. I go every week!

i am too

I saw your post this morning and grabbed my camera before I left the house.

https://steemit.com/farmersmarket-challenge/@theblindsquirl/farmersmarket-challenge

Most of us are aware of the dangers that factory farming pose to both our well-being and the health of our environment. Animal cruelty, water supply pollution, exposure to carcinogenic chemicals, antibiotics, and other pharmaceutical drugs (in both food and water), are just some of the risks and concerns.
it's Very true@ericvancewalton

Thanks for reading!

This is a great idea! I'll be at my town's farmer's market this week.

Thank you...Awesome! Be sure to post about it, if you can.

Will do. I'll take some photos too.

I'm in! I wonder if there's a way to connect growers here on Steemit who would be willing to accept Steem as payment for their produce?

That's a wonderful question. It would be great if we had some growers who accept Steem!

I had planned to begin selling at my local farmer's market here in Iowa this Summer, but I had a little set back.... 2 strokes on May 10th!!! I'm getting back to "My old self" though, and making plans for next year!!! We live in a really rural area, and the closest farmer's market isn't the greatest, so we're planning on relying more on "Farm stand" sales. We'll be converting 1/2 of our garage into a produce stand. I'll definitely be accepting Steem, and Bitcoin for payment!!! http://imgur.com/a/2MnRK

I'm sorry to hear about your health issues but am happy you're recovering! Accepting cryptocurrency as payment at a farm stand is such a wise (and groundbreaking) choice. I'm sure this community will totally support you in this. Wonderful news!

Thanks Eric..... How about a follow?

Beautiful pictures and great initiative. I love going to the farmer's markets.

oh Hell Yeah Eric!!!! I love it! Thankyou for throwing down where it matters =) Stuff like this makes me really happy for this community.

I appreciate the enthusiasm! Thanks for stopping by and for your support! Steemit is amazing, isn't it?

What a great way to get people involved and spread the word about truly healthy food.

These markets foster such a sense of community too. Thanks!

Ho Eric I have written some comment about farmers markets in Poland , I also described my own garden. Please look at this story https://steemit.com/farmersmarket-challenge/@lipszczak/farmers-markets-and-allotments-in-my-town

i keep telling my mom to buy non gmo and buy usda organic but she is being cheap and dont want to buy the expensive stuff, we have the money, not like we are poor or anything. When i go to supermarket i buy the good and expensive organic stuff, it cost twice or 3times as much.

That's one reason I love these open air markets. The organic produce is usually less expensive.

Yes, me too. I was at my farmer market this morning and was about to write about it !! And I found this amazing new fruit, the snake fruit ! https://steemit.com/blog/@mrssignificant/do-you-know-the-snake-fruit

Perfect timing. Upvoted and resteem

Very beautiful it will be my wife who will be happy.

Excellent! I love farmers markets, ours has not started yet as we live in the mountains but soon!

It sounds like you have an even shorter spring/summer than we do here in Minnesota. When do the markets start there?

This year is unusually late. Winter was hectic in BC, RECORD SNOW! Usually they start Mid May. Prolly gonna start mid June this year. Kimberley is the highest elevation city in Canada though. We get like 1.5 months of spring and fall the rest is cold or HOT! Not unusual to hit 104 degrees. And dry in the fire valley here. So the small/organic farms have to have greenhouses to get started. Not many farms here though, most are 2 hours away in Creston Valley which grows LOTS of food. (sadly also lots of pesticides).

Oh boy, you guys have a short summer! It's extreme like that here too. It can be -40F in the winter and well above 100F in the summer.


The farmers markets in Croatia are something else.Calling @buzzbeergeek and @dumar022.

I'd like to see some pictures of those markets!

I support local small town farmers markets. We have something called the 100 mile diet where you are encouraged to eat one entire meal (usually Thanksgiving) purchased or grown or obtained within a 100 miles of your town. Thank you, I shall participate.

That is brilliant! The 100 mile diet! Thanks in advance for participating, don't forget to tag me so I can resteem it once you post.

i LOVE this post and initiative. wish I could upvote 100 more times!!

Thank you very much! I hope the ball keeps rolling on this for a while and more people participate.

That's a very good idea! There's something to do with this. Steem Market!

Thanks! Yes, I like the sound of that...Steem Market!

Brilliant! Thank you!

You're welcome! Thank you!

I love farmers markets. It's so much better for your health and wallet! We are kinda lucky here that most local markets are just local farmers that sell their goods... I doesn't look as well organized as yours but it's fresh, non-GMO, and very local. I'll see if I can get a few nice shots. Market stories we have plenty!

There's really nothing like them, no matter what the size. People shopped this way for thousands of years before supermarkets, I think they're kind of in our genetic memory. Looking forward to your post!

Here in Cambodia we still live in that period when it comes to markets. No GMOs, no chemicals, and what you find on the market is what these people grow at home and come to sell! Pure bliss.... but it can look and smell like a mess... but hey not complaining here! Cheap, fresh veggies and fruits rock!


I cant wait for your latest post.Wow good post @ericvancewalton. Very nice and clean place.

Thanks!

@good-karma made me visit your blog. Hehe. Nice writer. I should learn from u

I love this idea. It may be my first step into making my first post. We have two out here where I live. The Seattle Farmers Market is also a tourist attraction and smaller than the one closest to me. Time to dig out my camera for those shots. Thank you @ericvancewalton and also @fairytalelife for this great post and idea

This will be an awesome post from you, the Seattle area has some cool markets! Thanks for your kind words and participation! Please be sure to tag me on that post.

You are very welcome and I will def be sure to tag. I was talking about it today at work and may end up going there this weekend. I'm quite excited about it. I want to post one of the smaller one also, but it may be a week or two. My main focus is the Seattle one.

I can't wait to see them! Thanks for participating!

will do, I"m a long time farmer's market pro ;-)

Ah, I can't wait to see the markets of Portland!

That woman is clearly breakdancing lol Looks like you had a great time at the farmers market :) I'm following you

Hilarious! Yes, she was the first person I've seen do a headspin on brick...hardcore. Thanks for the follow!

bahaaa If she actually did that...I would propose to her

I will be doing this! We can compare farmers markets from different sides of the cities. You probably have a larger selection being it's the St. Paul farmers market. But the one in Plymouth is pretty damn good too! Summer in MN, gotta soak it up while ya can!

Ahh, a fellow Minnesotan! Looking forward to seeing the market in Plymouth! You've got that right...blink and you miss the warm weather here. ; )

Inspire effort....deserve my upvote and resteem...I wish I can join the "Farmer’s Market Challenge"....

Thank you!

u r welcome...keep it up...will always support ...

I love visiting those farmer's markets. That a great challenge that you've come up with!

I appreciate that, man! It's going to be fun seeing all the markets around the world and learning more about our fellow Steemians!

I totally already do this! And yes its like a match made in heaven! Anything with a more person to person atmosphere is perfect match for steem.

So glad to hear it! Thanks!

I made a trip to my farm market today and will be writing about it!

Wonderful, Ann! Thanks!

Thanks for making this great challenge. We can all do our bit for climate change in our own way!

You're welcome! Most definitely, Ann. If we all modify our lives just a bit future generations will thank us. We have a lot of power if we all vote with our dollars. Thank you!

So true, each of us can do what we can with what we have and make a huge difference!

Great post, highlighting Farmer's Markets is such a big thing. Down here in Florida we use a local one all the time and support the amazing people there working their weekends away for healthier living. Upvoted and followed.

A good friend and user of my page Steemit Blogger Central actually shared your article with me on our Twitter page. I am about to RESTEEM this there and on our Facebook in hopes to get more people over here for you. Stuff like this I think is important to share, shows a great use of this platform. Keep up the amazing work.

You can view your RESTEEM at the following pages:

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/steemitbc

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/steemitbc

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Thank you so much! I really appreciate you spreading the word to increase awareness of buying from/supporting local markets!

Anytime, these are the kind of endeavors I believe in...get people back to the better ways of doing things and live right. Supporting our Farmers and our hard working individuals is key to a better world so thank you for highlighting an area of that here.

This is a good reason for me to go check them out. Count me in.

Awesome, thanks!

upvoted, resteem & followed .. initially saw this post on Blogger Sentral.

Love the post @ericvancewalton. I go to the farmers market every Sunday , here we call it "Pasar Tani". Its great place to find fresh food and as you said its way much cheaper then getting it from anywhere else. @bitrocker2020

Thank you! I'd be great to see some of the Malaysian markets!

Love the photos...the whole world could be this way, FOOD and FLOWERS.
Big Ag corporations are in the way, like bankers and generals. Blockchain is changing all that.

Thank you! Yes, you're right, blockchain will make life much better!

Great post! My girlfriend is religious about farmer's markets. I even a posted some time ago about it! It is definitely healthier!

Thank you! It sounds like you have a smart girlfriend! They're definitely healthier and can even be less expensive.

I love the word 'farmers market'. I smell green and fresh. :) @ericvancewalton

Our market in St. Paul smells like fresh basil. They always have and abundance of fresh herbs...well the legal ones anyway. Lol.

Excellent article! We changed our shopping habits years ago for the very same reason, and when we buy from stores, we always read the labels. "If you can't say what's on the label, don't put it in your mouth," is a simple rule that we live by. Support your local farmer's market for your own benefit!

Thank you very much! That is a very wise rule to live by. It's an important lesson to learn that regulatory bodies that are set up to "protect" us are only protecting the continued profit from huge corporations.

That is true. Tax dollars talk loud and clear!

Amen! That's about the only voice we have left, unfortunately.

I hope more people do this- we have an oyster mushroom farm! :) It is absolutely true though, local grown is the best way to buy food. Helps your health, helps a farmer. Win/Win! In our area (Florida) this is off season for farmers' markets. Too hot here to grow much. Thankfully there are still some open though! Will be posting soon!

Ah, a mushroom farm! How cool! My wife and I really like shitakis. You're so right, it's a win all around! I'm looking forward to seeing your post. Please tag me so I can resteem. Thanks!

Shitakis are wonderful! I will definitely tag you, and thanks!

Awesome. Thanks!

Farmers Market Challenge Accepted!

Faces of the Farmers Markets on Hawai'i Island

DES-20160925-The-Big-Island-of-Hawaii@Vegan-Honokaa-Farmers-Market-010.jpg
Britt and Hanale from Makaukau Ai Kakou

Thank you very much for participating! Upvoted and resteemed!

You're welcome, thank you for making steemit worthwhile @ericvancewaltoin!

I'm a little late finding this, but wanted to say thank you! My family and I have a small farm and sell at a local farmers market. Shopping local is so important for small businesses (especially farms).

Thank you, @ericvancewalton for starting this challenge!

You're very welcome! I think the challenge might be gathering steam (or Steem) to have a resurgence. We'd love to see a post about what you sell and the Farmers Market experience from a vendor's point of view!

I have a busy few days ahead, but will try to put something together as soon as I can!

Wonderful! Thanks.

I love farmers markets!

This is a great initiative. I usually shop at either Sprouts, Whole Foods, or Central Market but I'm not sure if there's a farmers market anywhere around here. Now I'm going to check.

Thanks! We used to shop at Whole Foods but it got a little too pricey. During the off-season we do a majority of our shopping at a local organic co-op.

Thanks for this article.
That is actually one of the reason we have started with conservation of mountain forest in Cameroon.
Check this out and save it with us: https://steemit.com/nature/@kedjom-keku/do-it-for-forest-upvote-comment-resteem-to-save-the-abongphen-highland-forest-in-cameroon-11usd-10x10-m-forest-saved

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