June Marks Start of Local Farmers’ Markets

It’s that time of year when local Farmers’ Markets re-open for the summer season. Thanks to farmers’ markets, we can buy the freshest produce available directly from our county’s farmers. Most produce is picked in the morning before farmers head to the market.

Eating more fruits and vegetables each day helps prevent diseases like diabetes, heart disease, obesity and cancer. The antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and fiber found in fresh fruits and vegetables are more potent than from any supplement you can buy. Our local Farmers’ Markets play a unique role in keeping our community healthy. This month look for rhubarb, strawberries, beets, broccoli, herbs, lettuce, peas, radishes, scallions and spinach.

A visit to your local farmers’ market gives you the opportunity to meet the people who grow your fruits and vegetables and to ask them questions about the produce they sell. Maybe you have a question about what the produce tastes like, how to use it in a recipe, what farming methods were used to grow the produce or are just curious about the farm in general. Farmers at the markets are happy to answer these and other questions related to their business and their products.

Buying local from your farmers’ market supports local businesses and small farms in the area and is good for the economy. It also helps to save energy, because food does not travel hundreds or even thousands of miles to get to your table. Buying local is better for the landfill, because there is no packaging and using your own reusable tote bags helps even more. Best of all, you know where your food came from and who grew it for you.

Here’s a capsule look at the local offerings:

Genesee County

Downtown Batavia Public Market — Open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, June 10 through Oct. 28 at Bank Street and Alva Place Parking Lot. Information, 344-0900,www.downtownbataviany.com.

Le Roy Farmers’ Market — Open 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturdays, June 25 through Oct. 1 at Trigon Park. Information, 297-2441.

Orleans County

Canal Village Farmers’ Market — Open 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays, June 4 through Oct. 29 at 127 W. Center St., Medina.

Wyoming County

Perry Farmers’ Market — Open 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturdays, June 18 to Sept. 24 at Perry Festival Plaza, Main St., Perry. Live music and other entertainment. Information, 237-2614,www.perryfarmersmarket.com.

Market at the Villa — Open 3 to 7 p.m. Thursdays, May 26 through Sept. 29 at 140 N. Main St, Warsaw.

Jen Reardon is a registered dietician nutritionist who leads the Western Region EFNEP program for Cornell Cooperative Extension and owns Nutrition by Design.
http://www.thedailynewsonline.com/bdn05/june-marks-start-of-local-farmers-markets-20160604