22 Delicious Types of Produce to Shop For at Your Local Farmers Market
Visiting your town’s farmers market is a wonderful way to spend a summer morning or afternoon! It allows you to enjoy the fresh air, get some steps in, and be part of your community by supporting local agriculture. Plus, eating fresh produce is immensely beneficial to your health and well-being! Produce changes with the season, especially in Maine, so it’s best to have an idea of what to look for to ensure you pick up everything on your grocery list. Below, we explain the benefits of eating locally and offer a list of the best Maine produce in July to look for at your farmers market!
Benefits of Local Produce From Your Farmers Market
High nutritional value (and unmatched flavor!) – Knowing what’s in season can help ensure you’re getting not only the most nutrition-packed produce, but the best tasting fruits and veggies available because they are harvested at peak ripeness.
Food transparency – Unlike shopping at grocery stores, when you purchase your produce from local farmers, you can actually speak with the individuals that worked hard to get it there. The opportunity to ask about crops and learn about different farming methods can give you a deeper understanding – not to mention appreciation – for the food you eat.
Contribute to your community – By shopping at a farmers market, you are supporting farms in the most meaningful way possible! Sales made during markets help farmers stay in business and give your local economy a boost. It also is an excellent way to “go green,” since local farms cut out the middleman that requires excess carbon emissions.
Best Maine Produce in July
There are so many hardworking producers who make this variety of agricultural products available throughout the state of Maine! According to the Maine Federation of Farmers’ Markets, be sure to add these fruits and vegetables to your list the next time you stop by your local farmers market:
- Beets
- Blueberries
- Broccoli
- Carrots
- Chard
- Corn
- Cucumbers
- Fennel
- Garlic and garlic scapes
- Kale
- Kohlrabi
- Lettuce and mixed salad greens
- New potatoes
- Raspberries
- Radishes
- Scallions
- Spring onions
- Strawberries
- Snow peas and sugar snap peas
- Summer squash
- Turnips
- Zucchini
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Our active community at Cumberland Crossing is truly retirement living for the 21st century! With an inclusive monthly maintenance fee and two customizable, solar-powered cottages to choose from, we offer you the freedom to spend your retirement years doing what you love – perhaps even growing some of your own vegetables or flowers in the raised beds of our new Community Garden! Remember, you’ll have more time without the burden and stress that comes with homeownership.
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