Find a Local Farmers Market in MT
Just about everyone understands nowadays that Montana farmers markets are one of the better places to find great local produce. Also they are great places to make friends, taste test new, fresh ingredients before you purchase, and even watch cooking demonstrations and entertainment in many cases.
Montana farmers markets highlight the products from local farms and other agri-businesses, plus they happen in your own home town, so you don't need to journey far to find them. They have been going on for years in some locations, but they've become more popular in the last few years, so you should be able to find one not far from home!
The Benefits of Farmers Markets in Montana
The advantages of shopping at your local Montana farmers market are many. First, you are assured the produce and other items are as fresh as they can be, as they come straight from the farm to the market. Most crops available for sale at these markets are naturally grown, so you know your family and friends won't be eating anything except farm-fresh goodness.
Also, Montana farmers markets are great for the environment. Farms contribute oxygen and remove carbon dioxide from the air, which will help minimize global warming, and usually, farmers do not have to drive too far to the market, so the environment gets another boost by using less fuel and contributing a lower number of emissions in the air.
Typically, rates are cheaper at farmers markets, too, because the farmer does not need to mark up his prices to make money from a wholesaler, who marks up the prices again before they get to the supermarket. So, you are actually paying less money for a far better product, and who doesn't like that?
These markets benefit Montana farmers, as well, because they have a weekly (or daily) market to appeal to customers, and in addition they don't have to ship their products days or even weeks beforehand at low cost, therefore they make a better profit, too. It's always better to buy from local MT farms, since the money stays in the local economy, and that means more jobs and earnings - all from buying fresh local produce!
Finding Your Local Montana Farmers Market
Farmers markets primarily run from late May or early June through September or October, according to where you live and your climate. Really it all depends on the growing season in your area and when farmers can get their first products to market. Montana farmers markets are such a big deal now, that usually local newspapers will print a schedule of markets in your area as the season is about to begin.
Often, you will find a schedule from your local Cooperative Extension or county agricultural board, too. They've already become quite popular, in fact, that some communities enjoy a number of farmers markets every week, so it pays to shop all of them and choose the ones that provide the produce and other products you like the best.
What to Look for at a Montana Farmers Market
You are sure to find local Montana farms promoting their wares at good prices, but there are a few things to look out for. Make sure the produce is ripe and hasn't been sitting out in the sun too long, or has been damaged in transport. Nearly all booths will offer you a free taste of whatever you are looking at, so you can check out new flavors and crops you might not have had a chance to experience before.
Some farmers may also offer you recipes and other ideas on how to serve their products, too. At the really big markets, organizers may bring in free entertainment, arts and crafts booths, and other amusements to bring in the crowds, and they may even provide play areas for the kids, too.
Look for other items at your farmers market, too. Sometimes local meat, cheese, and dairy producers bring their wares, and big markets are more like a county fair, with food booths, information booths, and even games for the whole family. So, check out a local Montana farmer market or two, and come home with everything else you need for a healthy, hearty dinner.