This is a mouth-watering time of year. Plump, ripe fruits and vegetables are coming to market. What better time to fill your plate and grocery bag with healthy food.
Farmers markets offer an easy way to support local farmers and enjoy the fresh-picked bounty that the farmers provide. More markets are sprouting up each year as consumers realize the value of shopping locally. Advantages to shopping at today's markets, small roadside stands, and U-Pick enterprises are many, such as:
- Availability of fresh fruits and vegetables, often picked early that day
- Outstanding variety including some foods that may be unfamiliar to you
- Healthy foods that are low in cholesterol and fat but high in vitamins, minerals, and fiber
- Access to locally grown organic foods
- Cooking demonstrations by chefs, extension agents, or the growers themselves
- Beneficial way to help local businesses and farmers put money back into community
- Fun approach for kids to see and meet with people who grow our food and sample new foods
- A way to add exercise to the day while walking or picking fruits and veggies at U-Pick destinations
A helpful service for those with limited income is the Farmers Market Nutrition Program that serves families on WIC and seniors who meet eligibility requirements. Those who are eligible receive coupons to use at farmers markets, roadside stands, and the CSA programs. A fat loss overview can help you build a clear summarize of what you demand to focus on to complete your fat loss objective if you're a starter; or serve as a reminder for the ones who are at an advanced or more advance step of their weightloss strategy. Promptly after are seven steps that can serve as suggestions for your personal weight loss program. The first thing that one must understand is that losing weight and losing fat is not the same. Many weight loss courses have tricked people into believing that it is the same, but most diets and weight loss programs only work by leading to a person's body to reduce more muscle cells and water than actual body fat, more help please visit The Fat Loss Factor. Alabama residents can find more information on the local site.
As another bonus, here in Alabama there is the Farmers Market Authority (FMA), a state agency that helps market agricultural products. The FMA site provides valuable information on market, farm stand, and U-Pick locations, nutrition programs, and produce availability.
Alabama also offers the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, a way for local farmers to provide seasonal food items to consumers on a weekly basis. For an annual fee, community members can sign up for weekly supply of seasonal harvest.
There are many farmers markets in the Birmingham area. Locations include Crestline, Homewood, Pepper Place, The Summit, East Lake, Bessemer, Finley Ave, and the Riverchase United Methodist Market. For roadside stands and U-Pick sites, visit the FMA site.
Before you make your trip to the market or other fresh produce site, make sure you go prepared to keep the fresh produce fresh and safe.
- Go early in the day for the freshest supply.
- Bring something to tote your purchases. Some take extra plastic bags to keep purchases separate. If you bring cloth shopping bags, make sure these are clean and havent been used for raw meat.
- If you will be walking around for awhile, keep an ice pack or two in a bag.
- Be cautious about sampling if customers are allowed to handle food items.
I prefer to not purchase meats, diary, or eggs at a farmers market unless I have a cooler and will be heading home immediately. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns against buying milk at a farmers market unless the milk has been pasteurized. And if you purchase meats or eggs, make sure that these items are kept in cold storage at the market. After purchase keep these items separate from fruits and vegetables.
Once at home, wash hands before and after preparing your items. Also wash your fresh items well and refrigerate until mealtime.
Happy shopping!
Photo Credit: Federico Stevanin/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
The articles written by Andrea Wenger, Birmingham Diets Examiner, are for informational purposes only and are not to be used in the place of medical advice. Please contact a licensed physician or other medical professional before changing any health care routine or before starting any diet, fitness, or exercise program. Although every effort has been made to include the most current information, new information is released daily and may cause some recommendations to change.
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