One of my favourites things to do in the summer is visit the Farmers Market. One of my New Years goals was to visit the market as often as possible this summer and so far we haven't missed a day! It's become such a routine for my family...my kids actually get really excited about going. It is definitely a highlight of their weekend. For my children, visiting the market means sampling different foods, handpicking their favourite fruits and vegetables, refreshing lemonade, lunch and a tasty new treat every week...ok so I give them a little incentive -ha! For my hubby and I, visiting the market means supporting local businesses, buying fresh quality foods, trying new products we can really feel good about and the best part - spending time together.
I'm always trying to encourage others to visit the market and two questions I always get asked...
- Is it more expensive?
- Is it organic?
To be honest, some things are a little more expensive but I'll find other ways to save money. You can't sacrifice good quality food - I honestly believe that. At the end of the day, all I want is to feel good about what I feed my family...buying fresh, locally grown foods gives me that satisfaction! Even better, you get to meet all the vendors face to face, develop relationships and learn where their products are coming from. For me, the next best thing to growing it or making it myself is buying it at the market.
Is it organic? Some of it isn't but nothing in my own vegetable garden would be considered organic either (at least by the provincial government). In order for crops and livestock to qualify as "organic", farmers must abide by a specific set of guidelines. I'm not going to pretend to know anything more...if you're interested you can read further about it here: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/09-077.htm. As for the foods you can buy at the market, they're all locally grown, which means you can literally drive to the farm and get any information you require directly from the farmers. Again, I get that feeling of satisfaction knowing exactly where my food is coming from.
For a complete list of vendors at the Bolton Farmers Market you can check out their site here: http://www.boltonfarmersmarket.ca/
Have a wonderful weekend!
Have a wonderful weekend!
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