Earth Day’s like our birthday around here! Shoppers with reusable bags and pounds of leafy greens are a gift all year ‘round. Farmers markets are built on the idea that understanding our food — knowing where our food comes from, how it is produced, and the people who grow/raise/prepare it – cultivates a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle for our community. The word “sustainable” is everywhere, but it can be easy to forget what it actually means. To local farmers and ranchers, “sustainable” is more than just a label for your food. Farmers and ranchers with a commitment to sustainability hold responsible stewardship of the planet, people, and profits as their foundational value. Farmers markets are an intersection for each of these principles to come together! “Planet, people, and profits” might raise some eyebrows if you’re of a more altruistic bend, but this is a critical aspect of running a successful agricultural business. Farms provide valuable contributions to our community through growing healthy foods, improving our environment, and creating employment opportunities in the local economy – without support from customers these contributions are ultimately unsustainable.
When you shop at the Dallas Farmers Market, the agricultural products you purchase all come from Texas or 400 miles of Dallas meaning that farmers and ranchers earn a fair wage for their goods. In grocery stores, average produce sales lead to 10 cents on the dollar going back to agricultural producers. Farm direct sales allow farmers and ranchers to take home 100% of their profit. Supporting local farmers and ranchers is not only critical to keeps farming profitable, but is also our necessary contribution to sustainability! Let’s put our money where our farms are this Earth Day by supporting local agriculture.
