Farmer's market promotes healthy eating

by Kewa Jiang

The Milpitas farmer’s market located at the Indian Community Center, ICC, on Los Coches Street provides a way to buy inexpensive fruits and vegetables that are organically grown. The farmer’s market is open rain or shine all-year-round on Sundays from eight o’clock to one o’clock in the afternoon, according to the PCFMA’s, Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Association’s, website. The PCFMA works in partnership with the ICC to organize the farmer’s market.

Similar to conventional grocery stores, the farmer’s market sells tomatoes, lemons, oranges, apples, and other produce. But unlike a grocery store, the farmer’s market features mostly seasonal produces. For example, as the weather moves into autumn and winter, squashes, yams, and carrots take the place of summer fruits and vegetables.

The farmer’s market is not only economical, but a healthy alternative to mass-produced produce found in grocery stores. The fruits and vegetables sold at the market are picked when they are ripe. In contrast, the produce found in grocery stores are picked before they are ripe to prevent them from spoiling while being transported to stores. Fruits and vegetables eaten when they are at the peak of ripeness provide the most nutrients.

The farmer’s market also provides much more than just fruits and vegetables. There are vendors who sell eggs, bread, pastries, kettle corn, organic honey, and hot food. Moreover, on some Sundays local musicians play at the market. In addition, the farmer’s market is a way to explore and experience new fruits and vegetables not commonly found in grocery stores. For example, duck eggs are sold at the market as well as long stalks of sugar cane.

By going to the local farmer’s market, you also help the environment. When you buy directly from the farmers, it helps reduce carbon dioxide emission. The reason is that it reduces the miles the produce need to travel in order to arrive at its final destination. Moreover, it decreases the amount of plastic used to package the food. Buying from the farmer’s market also helps promote more environmental production methods, such as not using pesticides.

In addition, numerous students or relatives of students from MHS go to the farmer’s market. One student who used to go to the farmer’s market was Junior Lordesa Fok. She went every Sunday until this past summer. When asked about her favorite aspect of the farmer’s market, Fok said, “I liked the samples and the fruit was pretty good too.”

Going to the farmer’s market not only helps the environment, but your health as well. The farmer’s market is a cheaper way to get all the fruits and vegetables you need to have a balanced diet.