One of the exciting things that spring has to offer, other than the great weather, is the re-opening of the local farm stands and Farmers Markets. Prior to relocating my family to the Charlotte, NC area several years ago, we spent about 10 years in Hunterdon County, NJ, located along the PA border, about 50 miles west of Newark Airport. Every July, depending on weather conditions, the peach crop from Tradition Farms would go on sale, along with loads of local fruits and vegetables. I know, I know, peaches from Jersey? Well, they were a staple in our house for many, many years, and they were tremendous.
Now that we are in Waxhaw, NC, just outside of Charlotte, we found several farm stands and Farmers Markets to choose from. Supporting local agriculture is really important to us here at Natural GREEN Lawns, and hopefully is to you as well. Here are a few simple reason why you should visit your local farms and Farmers Markets.
There are scant few local farms able to compete with the big commercial farms. Supporting your local agriculture supports your local economy and helps preserve its past.
Mass produced produce is typically picked early, well before being vine ripened. Local farms and Farmers Markets are often able to pick the fruit when it ripens because it isn’t traveling too far before it hits the shelf, giving you a tastier product, and one that is higher in nutritional value.
Food in the US travels on average 1,500 miles before getting to market. Large scale agriculture also typically uses synthetic chemical fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides in a very broad way. Local farms and the food sold at many Farmers Markets don’t typically travel very far, and are often grown using methods that minimize the impact on our planet, and our health.
Of course, there are many, many more reasons to support your local farms and Farmers Markets such as connecting with your neighbors, supporting the humane treatment of livestock, tips about what you are buying and how to prepare it, and just simply the wealth of knowledge you can glean from the proprietors. Here in the Waxhaw, NC area there are several options to choose from:
This is a “Producers Only” market which means “all of our farmers and artisan vendors, grow, raise, bake, or make the items they sell.” The farms are within 50 miles of town, the meats and eggs are cage-free and pasture raised, and the artisan foods are all natural. www.waxhawfarmersmarket.org
This family-owned and operated farm offer pasture raised beef, chicken, and pork, as well as free-range, brown eggs. All of their products are “raised and sold on site, granting customers the rare opportunity to see exactly where their food is produced.” How awesome is that? http://www.gracerootsfarm.com
Poplar Ridge Farm is a small, family-owned Certified Organic Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm offering “produce & flower memberships, weekly online orders, an open to the public on-farm market stand, and deliveries to Charlotte metro restaurants.” http://www.poplarridgefarmnc.com
If we missed any other Waxhaw-centric farms that service the retail market, please reach out to us and we’d be glad to update this post!
Natural GREEN Lawns: We’re your local, safe organic-based lawn care company, and your alternative to the dangerous synthetic chemical fertilizer companies. We are currently serving the Union County, NC and vicinity area.