Spring has sprung, and hopefully this past week’s snow was our last of the season. Soon we will be seeing the reemergence of blossoms and farmers’ markets. Most of our local markets will be opening over the next month and a half, and there are plenty of reasons to shop from your Lehigh Valley farmers.
You may remember a blog post we did a few months ago where we highlighted the research of Buy Fresh Buy Local’s Community Fellow Laura Schmidt. She debunked the common perception that farmers’ markets prices are higher than grocery stores: (read the full report here!)
When the price of a shopping bag of farmers’ market food grown/raised using organic methods is compared to the price of a shopping bag of grocery store certified organic food, no statistically significant difference is found. There is also no statistically significant price difference between a bag of farmers’ market conventional and grocery store conventional food. Nor is there a statistically significant difference between the farmers’ market and grocery store bags of combination (organic methods/ certified organic & conventional) food.
The Buy Fresh Buy Local website explains other reasons for buying from regional farmers, including better taste, health benefits, supporting local business and the beneficial environmental factors. Supermarket produce average 7 to 14 days in transit, during which time fruits and vegetables lose some of their nutritional value and burns fossil fuels while travelling.
Now that you’re convinced to buy local, here’s where you can do it!
| 1. St. Luke’s SteelStacks Farmers’ Market: SteelStacks Farmers’ Market101 Founders Way 25 W. 3rd Street Bethlehem, PA 18015 610-332-1300 Distance: 4.67 miles.2. Bethlehem Farmers’ Market @ Campus Square: Bethlehem Farmers’ MarketS New St & E Morton St Campus Square Bethlehem, PA 18015 610-758-4652 Distance: 4.75 miles. P.O. Box 14 4. Saucon Valley Farmers’ Market WaterStreetPark 100 N. Walnut Street Keystone Park |
7. Nazareth Market on the SquareCenter Square Nazareth, PA 18064 610-746-9998 Distance: 12.40 miles.8. Easton Farmers’ Market: Nurture Nature Center518 Northampton Street Easton , PA 18042 610-330-9942 Distance: 14.54 miles. Centre Square 10. Ottsville Farmers Market: LindenHillGardens (Route 611) 11. Indian Valley Farmers Market Penn& Main Streets |
So now you have the why and the where, here’s the what: a schedule of when fruits and vegetables come into season
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May
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June |
July |
August |
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| Apricots Asparagus Avocados Basil Beans, Green Beets Broccoli Cabbage Carrots Cauliflower Celery Chard Cherries Citrus:Grapefruits,Kumquats,Lemons, Navel Oranges, Valencia Oranges Collards |
Apricots Avocados Cherries Asparagus Basil Beans, Green Beets Broccoli Cabbage Carrots Cauliflower Celery Chard Citrus:Grapefruits,Kumquats,Lemons, Navel Oranges, Valencia Oranges |
Apples Apricots Asparagus Avocados Basil Beans, Green Beets Broccoli Cabbage Carrots Cauliflower Celery Cherries Citrus:Grapefruits,Lemons,Valencia Oranges Collards |
Apples Asparagus Avocados Basil Beans, Green Beets Broccoli Cabbage Carrots Cauliflower Celery Chili Pepper Citrus:Grapefruits,Lemons,Valencia Oranges Collards Corn Cucumber Eggplant Figs Grapes Kale Kohlrabi Lettuce Melons Mushroom Mustard Nectarines Okra Onion, dry Onion, Green Passion Fruit Peaches Pears Pears, Asian Peas, Black-eyed Peppers Persimmons Plums Potatoes Raspberries Sapote Spinach Squash, Summer Squash, Winter Strawberries Tomatillos Tomatoes Turnips |
We hope to see you out this spring and summer supporting our local agriculture!
