BUDS

Farmer’s Markets

One of the great ways to teach children about locally grown fruits and vegetables is to plan a visit to your local farmer’s market. Children love the outdoors and having the opportunity to walk through the rows and rows of colorful produce can turn a hum drum trip into an exciting experience. Having an opportunity to sample helps with making this type of outing the perfect way to spend a Saturday morning with a budding foodie.

To get the most out of your market adventure, here are a few tips to get you going:

  1. Check your local newspaper for times and featured presentations for the day you plan to visit.
  2. Plan to arrive early. By beating the crowds you will have more of an opportunity to engage the growers to ask questions about their offerings.
  3. Ask for samples to taste before purchasing.
  4. Check out the information booth to learn about special programs that might be offered in your area to support your home garden. There are a number of educational programs on natural pest control, planting and composting that can prove to be very beneficial as you teach your children about gardening.
  5. To teach the lesson of recycling, be sure to take along your own reusable bags for your purchases.
  6. Plan to take your purchases home immediately rather than leave in a hot car in order to avoid spoilage
  7. Encourage your child to help with preparing a special dish from the items you purchase.
  8. Take photographs of your outing.

Coming up in the July issue: "Pick Your Own Farms"