By Sara A. Broers
By supporting your local farmers, you will also support your local community. Farmers make up a large part of any community. You may not see one everyday but you will see a part of them daily through the food you eat. Farmers produce wheat, corn, soybeans, oats, onions, carrots, just to name a few. What about the meat you eat? They also grow the pigs, cows, goats, and other animals that you may enjoy at your table daily.
If your community does not have a local farmers market, I would encourage you to take the initiative to get one started. This is one way that citizens in your community can meet the local farmer and truly appreciate the products they produce. You may have someone in your community that grows popcorn, strawberries, watermelons, asparagus, apples, or cherries. These are just some of the products that you may find at a local farmers market near you. By buying local you will also save freight costs and the unnecessary shipping costs. This also helps eliminate unnecessary wear and tear on the highways and byways that cross our country.
Our smaller communities are disappearing throughout the Mid-West and the United States. Some of this is because the local citizens do not support the local farmers. When the people of a community support each other, it’s a win-win situation for everyone. When new businesses open, farmers are able to patronize these businesses. These same producers may also be able to provide products for the business. When products are grown locally, there is no middle man. When there is a middle man, the product costs more and the selection of products may be limited. With our economy in such turmoil right now, it makes sense for everyone to find an egg producer close by. Maybe you will find someone who grows a patch of red, ripe strawberries. These producers may be in your backyard.
Local farmers shop in our small towns when there are stores available. They also enjoy patronizing the local coffee shops and they like a good steak dinner once in a while. Home improvement stores are also places that farmers like to spend some of their money, as well as farm supply stores. If these are in your community, they will support you, which will allow you to support them. It’s important for communities to have services that farmers need.
By supporting your local farmers, your community will reap the rewards that will follow. It’s all about being in tune to the needs of the people around you. When the farmers in your community are feeling welcome, they will spend money. Farmers will support you when you need help. In a time of need, the farmer is quite often the first person to help out. By involving the local farmers in your community, the positive impacts will outweigh any negative ones that may come your way. Show the farmers you care! Wave, thumbs up, smile or shake their hand next time you see one and thank them for the food on your table!
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