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The West Coast Is Home to America’s Best Farmers Markets

Here’s Where People are Supporting Local Agriculture the Most

By Britney ClaytonPublished 5 years ago 3 min read
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Whether you’re trying to jump start your healthy eating with more fresh produce or simply filling your Sunday itinerary with a local activity, farmers markets can make for a fun outing. This is a great way to support local agriculture while enjoying the outdoors. Plus, there are sure to be some finds that the corporate grocery store simply can’t offer.

If you’re new to the farmers market scene, you may not know where to begin. With over 8,600 farmers markets in the United States, the options are truly endless. Each market has its own individual characteristics that make it different from the others. Unlike national retailers, you won’t find the same products at every venue.

One of the biggest factors that differentiate farmers markets is the location itself. The city largely influences the overall quality of the market. According to a recent study by Empire Today, some cities are simply better than others for farmers market enthusiasts. A combination of unpredictable factors such as precipitation and sunshine as well as controllable factors such as prevalence and payment methods were analyzed in order to determine the best cities for farmers markets.

Fifteen of the top 20 cities for farmers markets are centralized in California, Nevada, and Arizona. With relatively low April precipitation, high chances of sunshine and large proportions of land area being parkland, the West Coast definitely has favorable conditions for successful agriculture.

However, without the farmers and supporters in the West Coast, the markets would be nothing. The California Farmers Market Association serves over 26,000 households each week with fresh and local products. Additionally, over 3,000 farmers are rewarded for their hard work in the fields with business and community support. While farming may seem like a habit of the past, it is clearly still very much alive.

Despite the prevalence of stellar farmers markets along the Pacific Ocean, the city that has earned the title of best accommodations for farmers markets is located on the opposite side of the country. Our nation’s capital, Washington, DC, is officially the ruler of all things agriculture—despite its big city vibe.

DC is home to the most farmers market with respect to the population. There are tons of options packed into a tight space, so you really never have to go to the same market twice. DC also stood out on its walkability score. Bouncing between markets is a breeze with the abundance of options and close proximities.

One downfall of the capital is the priceyness. In fact, judging on cost alone, DC would be considered the worst city for farmers markets. The average price of an item is $2.74, matching the expensiveness of the city overall. However, DC is home to the most farmers markets that accept credit cards—so need to carry around huge wads of cash on your local agriculture splurge.

At the end of the day, no matter what the weather is like or how many farmers markets there are in a given city, any city that is encouraging local agriculture deserves a shoutout.

Farmers markets have countless benefits for everyone involved - from farmers to shoppers, to the globe as a whole. Local agriculture reduces the use of toxic pesticides that are not only unhealthy for you but also harm the environment. Additionally, local farmers are more likely to promote the humane treatment of animals, including their living quarters and diets free from hormones and antibiotics.

On top of all of these scientific benefits, the source of community generated by farmers markets is unmatchable. They offer a place for everyone of all backgrounds to come together and mingle with one another as few other environments can!

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