Shopping at Farmers' Markets During Coronavirus -- Better Now Than Ever!
A few weeks ago, a girlfriend’s face balled up when I told her my plan for the day included making a trip to the farmers’ market. “Seriously, T.K.?! Why would you want to do that right now?!” Hesitation during this time is understandable, if a person has never been to a farmers’ market, especially because a marketplace is what got us into this mess in the first place. I understand. However, I am here to assure you that our markets are nothing like the less-than-ideal (to say the least) conditions of China’s wet markets.
The Golden State boasts excellent farmers’ markets sprinkled from inlands to coasts, and the mayor of its most popular city has strict guidelines in place for theirs. Society’s current state is actually a great moment to check one out for the first time, or go back if you’ve been a regular, and here are three reasons why:
It’s more safe.
Chances of being exposed to COVID-19, at a farmers’ market, are much lower than at a grocery store. The apple you pick up at Ralph’s is way more likely to have corona on it.
There’s intricate science behind it.
According to the head of Science and Technology for the Department of Homeland Security, “sunlight impedes virus transmission” and his group of experts encourages people to “move activities outside”. During the briefing, Bill Bryan went on to explain that the virus survives best indoors, while is dies quickest in presence of direct sunlight. It can last on a surface inside for 18 hours, yet die in 2 minutes outside (in the sun). And surprise, surprise… Guess what’s outside? Farmers’ markets! When at an open-air marketplace, shoppers and the items they’re buying, are constantly soaking up this lovely Los Angeles sun.
And then, there’s plain logic.
At a farmers’ market: A compilation of vendors form to make a shopping site. Each vendor is present with their products at all times. These products were brought to the site by the vendor. They were brought from wherever they were pulled out of the ground, or made, by the vendor. These items were placed out at the booth by the vendor. Shoppers were not able to touch the items they weren’t buying.
At a grocery store: A compilation of brands form to make a shopping site. No one is present with each brand at all times. These products were brought to the site by delivery drivers. These items were brought from a distribution center, after having gone from storage unit to storage unit. These products were placed on the shelves by store employees. Shoppers freely mulled over these products; person after person, picking them up and putting them down.
You tell me.. Products from which site are touched with the least number of hands (thus the lowest exposure to people’s germs) ?
It’s more healthy.
What do we all want right now? It’s something we want more than we want a gazillion dollars… a good immune system! (Though I may take a compromised immune system for a gazillion dollars. Kidding, but it does sound tempting.) Immunity is greatly affected by the foods we consume, and a farmers’ market affords you the opportunity to consume the best of the best.
Local is better than store-bought organic!
Local farmers do not use harsh chemicals on their crops, as opposed to organic companies that still use a considerable amount of pesticides. Then, almost all vendors at the farmers’ markets I’ve visited in Los Angeles have also gone thru the rigorous process of becoming CCOF Certified Organic. This means that products from those farmers are both local and organic.
organic = good
local = better
organic + local = best
Preferable options
No, it’s not a bunch of tents full of kale; there are less nutritious selections to pick up as well. Still, even the items that aren’t as wholesome, aren’t too bad for you. For example, my new favorite snack is kefir, which is quite sugary, but chalk full of beneficial probiotics. Better choices are made when better options are what’s available.
You can’t eat a full pack of Oreos in one sitting (don’t tell me I’m the only one that’s done this), if you don’t buy it in the first place because you didn’t walk down an aisle where they were calling your name.
Farmers’ markets offer a variety of farm-fresh produce, health-consciously prepared foods, and guilt-free treats. Simply shopping in that environment, you’re more likely to pick up the ingredients for an immune-boosting smoothie, than ingredients for a cake.
It’s more fun!
Before protecting food from being touched, the sole purpose of vendors was selling. Even now, while focusing on operating under Mayor Garcetti’s public health orders, their core goal is still exceeding customer needs.
Yummy expert advice
It seems anything can be found with a quick Internet search, but has that stopped you from calling your mom for directions on how to cook something? It’s nice to receive information from a human being we can reach out and physically touch, or one we’re familiar with that we know has some sort of credibility. At farmers’ markets, the farmer that grew the product is right there to tell you about it. They always help me pick the strawberries that will satisfy my sweet tooth, or the avocados by when I plan to eat them.
An adventure
It is basically an outing at this point, especially in Los Angeles where non-essential businesses are set to remain closed for at least another six weeks. It may not be Six Flags Magic Mountain, but it’s the closest experience we have for the time being. Lift your hands over your head and holler as you walk in, to add to the thrill.
Mais yeah, sha
Conclusion. Shopping at a local farmers’ market right now is more safe, more healthy, and more fun! Skip your next trip to the grocery store and go on this culinary adventure instead. In smaller towns, finding one may pose more of a challenge, but in Los Angeles, there’s a farmers’ market every day of the week!
For those that have shopped at farmers’ markets before, what’s your favorite part about them? For those who have yet to visit one, are you considering it now? Let me know in the comments below!
