Farmer's Market Fun

by Lauri Griffin | More from this Blogger

12 Jul 2007 03:39 PM

My family is excited that the summer farmer's markets have opened. Going to the farmer's market is one of our favorite summer family activities.

I like that my children get to see real farm families at work. Many times the kids are offered a sample of watermelon, peaches, local honey, or flavored popcorn. And my kids love samples. I like that we are eating corn that was picked in the wee hours of the same morning, and that we are supporting local farmers.

The farmer's markets are great places for trading recipes, too. I love talking and eavesdropping as people discuss what they are going to make with bunches of basil or oregano. It's fun for the kids to pick through a bin of corn that is ten times as big as they are. Seeing all the variety of vegetables is fun and educational, too. We like to see the heirloom tomatoes, the different kinds of potatoes and corn, the many varieties of beans and melons and squash.

I like to take small bills so that the vendors don't have to make change. The markets can be crowded, so for little ones a wagon or a stroller is a good idea. I actually liked the wagon better when my kids were small because that way there was room for the watermelon. Besides being a handy way to carry the produce, pictures of kids in a wagon with a watermelon are very cute. These days I take a small push cart or large canvas bags that the boys can help carry.

Bringing home the fresh produce is fun, too. We know we will have fresh corn, new potatoes, sliced tomatoes and green beans with our dinners this week. I let the kids shuck the corn and trim the beans. I like that they know what real beans look like, that they don't think beans grow in a can.

Farmer's markets are a fun way to get the family shopping done.

Also See:

Visiting Farmer's Markets

Fun With Gourmet Foods Grocery Store Fun

Learn more about Lauri Griffin

Lauri lives in Colorado with her husband and three sons. Amidst all the laundry and packing of lunches, she tries to keep parenting fun.

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Jeff Bogle (1022) 13 Jul 2007 10:03 AM

Lauri, The Satuday morning farmer's market is a staple of our routine. It is so much fun to buy fruits, veggies and more from the source and it is a great feeling to help family farms.

Lauri Griffin (2703) 14 Jul 2007 08:21 AM

Thanks Jeff. That's how we feel too, that's it great fun for us, good for us, and we feel very good about supporting local family farms.