The Value of Farmers Markets to Community

The Claremont Sunday Farmers and Artisans Market is brought to you by The Claremont Forum. We understand the importance of having a weekly market where local farmers can offer fresh, organic foods to our community.

Access to fresh fruits and vegetables, breads, honey, and seafood is a huge contributing factor when it comes to community health and wellbeing. Here is why . . .

• Eating locally. In Southern California, the average piece of produce stays in transit for five days, traveling up to 6,000 miles from countries such as Mexico and Chile. Produce then sits on store shelves for up to four days before being purchased.
• Greater food transparency. Buying locally from smaller vendors gives the consumer the opportunity to ask questions and gain understanding of how food is grown and harvested.
• Fresher food. Let’s be honest. If you’ve never had a tomato fresh off the vine, then you’ve never truly “tasted” a tomato.
• Social interaction. Surveys of Los Angeles County farmers market shoppers show that 55% feel that the market increases connection to their community.
• Supporting our local economy. Farmers markets are the perfect opportunity to vote with your dollars. Chances are the money for fruits and vegetables, packaged foods, and crafts purchased at a local farmers market goes back into small, local business instead of large corporations.
• Farmers Markets Promote Sustainability. Our farmer/vendors come from up and down the Southern California coast. They are farmers who understand sustainability and most take it to the next step. Farmers engage in sustainable farming practices to produce healthy food to sustain the local community, who in turn provide the money necessary to sustain the farmers. Farmers who choose to use sustainable practices face economic and environment challenges. Farmers markets offer small and mid-sized farmers a low-barrier entry point to develop and thrive. Farmers selling at markets minimize the amount of waste and pollution they create. Using certified organic practices reduces the amount of synthetic pesticides and chemicals that pollute our soil and water. Many are also adopting other low-impact practices, such as on-site composting, that help mitigate climate change and other environmental concerns.

Thank you for shopping at our Sunday Farmers and Artisans Market. We all must play a role in offsetting the impacts of climate change. Next time you visit our farmers market, thank our local farmers for the role they play in our health, the health of our community, and the health of our planet.