
For seasonal produce, I tend to shop at several different farmers markets. This is not typical, as most people favor one market or another for convenience, ambiance or vendors. If you have a favorite, then you need to click here and vote for “America’s Favorite Farmers Market” before Thursday.
The competition for favorite farmers market is sponsored by the American Farmland Trust, an organization founded in 1980 that works tirelessly to save farm and ranch land and to promote healthy farming practices. An important note: America is losing 1.2 million acres of farmland every year.
With a staff of farmers, policy experts, and researchers, the American Farmland Trust promotes sustainable food systems and local farming with such campaigns as “no farms, no food.” Voting for your favorite farmers market is part of the no farms, no food campaign.
Voting is easy because you simply click on your state and then move through the ballot to your favorite local market. At this posting, the Farmers Market at the Garden, the market held every Wednesday at the Memphis Botanic Gardens, was placing third favorite market in the state of Tennessee. In Mississippi, the Hernando Farmers Market was in the lead with 865 votes. In Arkansas, the Fayetteville Farmers Market had a whopping 2,052 as of Sunday night, more votes than I spotted for any other regional market.
While it was difficult for me to pick a favorite, I went ahead and placed a vote. So should you.