local foods building community

How many times have you been greeted by name at the supermarket? Do you recall the last time you had a conversation with the person who personally handled and grew your food?
One of the reasons for buying food from the market is that you know the growers and producers, and they know you. Growing For Market, a monthly journal for farmer’s markets, has published a list of ten reasons to buy local foods. Number six is “local food builds community.” When you decide to buy local rather than at the supermarket you establish a connection between the eater and the grower. Food is an important part of life, and in all cultures sharing a meal together symbolizes community and fellowship. Therefore I believe our community is strengthened when we support and get to know our vendors at the Market. There are many benefits to personally knowing the people who make up our local foods community. By deciding to buy food from a vendor you establish an element of trust, which is a crucial element to building community. We are given insight into the rhythms of nature, the seasons, and weather when we participate in a local foods system. We learn more about our local environment, and have a deeper understanding for how our food system works. This strengthens our community by having a stronger respect for the foods that grow and thrive in our area. By building connections with your vendors you open up opportunities to visit their farms. This is a great way to teach your children about nature, farming and the cycles of life. Food is something that all of us have in common. By building a movement in our area based around local food we gather community and support our vendors at the market. By coming to the Market you meet a variety of people in your community who share the same interest in local foods.