It starts with selecting seasonal produce to put on your table. The fruits and vegetables that you buy at the farmers’ market have been harvested a few days before they go to market and the storage and transport time is far shorter than the produce that is delivered to the local grocery store. Hence, they are fresher and full of vitamins and minerals.
Eating produce that is seasonably available also reduces the need for produce to be shipped from faraway climates.
“The more we can depend on locally grown food, the smaller our carbon footprint is,” said Carla Lind, who co-founded the market in 1975 with Oak Park resident Marge Gockel. “The quality of freshly grown fruits and vegetables that have not been stored for months is far better for all of us.”
Farmers’ markets also provide shoppers a chance to chat with the vendors, many of whom live only a few hours away. You can learn about their farming practices.
“My farm model is based on sustainability. It is all organic,” said Holden Wilson, owner of Old Gaffer’s Garden based in Berwyn. Wilson grows his produce in plots in Berwyn, Riverside and parts of Oak Park. “I think knowing where our food comes from is important. I do think everyone should not only cook for themselves, but grow something in a garden, if possible, to appreciate the process of growing food.”
Old Gaffer’s Farm is “no till, no dig.” Wilson explained that traditionally a farmer will re-plow the soil which, over time, is not good for the soil. “I try to disturb the soil as little as possible so that all of the good micronutrients that are in the soil are not disturbed. I add compost and mulch on top of the soil.”
Unlike farmers’ markets in other communities, Oak Park’s Farmers’ Market is run through the village government. Many others are nonprofit organizations, said Jack Carmody, village farmers’ market coordinator.
The village is committed to promoting sustainability and has recently hired a new director of sustainability. This offers the farmers’ market an opportunity to partner with the village sustainability department to offer education sessions at the market. In late May or early June, the village’s Sustainability Department will offer an educational program at the market. Check the Farmers’ Market website for event details.
Another less visible factor regarding sustainability is that the food comes from farms in Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and Indiana. This close proximity reduces driving time to transport produce, thus reducing overall emissions. Transportation is a major factor in increasing temperatures that are affecting climate change.
Secondly, markets are often walkable for many residents. That too cuts down on the need to drive.
By supporting a farmers’ market, you are supporting local agriculture. The pandemic reinforced the need for strong community food resources. It also benefits your health and fosters a sense of community.
Take the kids and let them share in the decision-making process.