Support Your Health and Your Farmers

support your Health by supporting your Farmers by Katy Budge

Well, 2020 has changed up our world, but thankfully farmers markets have remained relatively intact. They may be a little more hushed, but they are still an important part of our community.

As a method of food access, farmers markets were deemed essential businesses at the start of the pandemic, and indeed they are. Eating fresh fruits and vegetables has rarely been so important, especially as we’re entering the double whammy of cold and flu season. And, supporting our local agriculture producers is crucial not only for our individual health, but for the health of the community.

Yes, the masks are an inconvenience, as are the Matrix-like contortions often needed to respect the six-foot distancing rule. Once we didn’t have to think about all this. Now we do it all because it’s the right thing to do, and it will let us keep our markets open so we can support our farmers.

Farmers already had a tough row to hoe, and were being further burdened by labor issues, climate change, tariff tiffs, the cost of land, decreasing availability of farm land, etc., etc., etc. Now add to that an international pandemic.

That the farmers themselves are even at the markets is a testament to their commitment. Yes, the markets are a crucial source of their income right now, but those farmers are facing the same health concerns we all are, often with limited financial cushions and sketchy access to health care. Yet there they are, at markets, to feed us. They deserve not only our support, but also our appreciation.