Member-only story
Sustainability
I Love my Local Farmers’ Markets
Community support and hope for the future
Rhode Island has a great farmers’ market scene. There is an indoor market year round, but in the summer months, I prefer to walk to a local park where the vendors set up every Saturday morning.
Indoors or outdoors, there’s always live music, arts and crafts, food trucks, hot coffee, and great local produce.
For years I’ve had a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) with a family-owned organic farm. I purchase a CSA plan to fit my budget (plans run from $200 to $500+), and get a debit card to use at the farmers’ markets. Unlike many CSA’s, you don’t get a box filled with produce, but can instead purchase whatever you need, and pay with the CSA debit card.
Rhode Island is “The Ocean State”, so no local farmers’ market wouldn’t be complete without fish and shellfish vendors. The local fresh catch is kept on ice in coolers, along with oysters, scallops, and littleneck clams.
Local dairies offer artisan cheeses and ice creams. Herbalists sell teas, tinctures, lip balms, facial creams and mosquito repellants. Flower farmers offer plants, cut bouquets, wreaths and dried flowers. Mushroom farmers offer fungi in incredible varieties.
