Fans of Local Food Rejoice

Great news for the city of Florence! Here in Florence, SC, we have been undergoing a revitalization project in the old downtown area. The area is looking better and better and more events are being scheduled in the area. Today I read an announcement that a Downtown Farmer's Market will be held each Wednesday afternoon in the breezeway area of downtown. The market will feature locally grown food from local family-owned farms, including Dickson's Organics (which is the CSA I have joined), Trinity Farms, Sweet Berry Farm, Carolina Heritage Farm, and Lone Palmetto Farms...just for starters! All foods/products at the market will have been produced within an 80 mile radius of Florence.
I am a huge proponent of local, sustainable agriculture and I am so pleased to be able to easily access a variety of their fares. When we buy locally grown food, we make a larger impact than many realize. For example, the food doesn't have to be transported thousands of miles (think California and Florida) which decreases carbon emissions and fossil fuel use. We also keep our money in the local economy, where it is more likely to continue to benefit our local job market and food prices. When buying organic, we are also showing our support for these farmers who bring us healthier, chemical-free produce. These organic farmers often make less due to lower yields but they continue because they believe in what they do and because they know we want this type of food. There are so many  more reasons to buy local when it's available.
According to the Downtown Farmers' Market Facebook page, "the market is comprised of vendors implementing sustainable practices (organic growing, pasture based livestock, heritage breeds, heirloom varieities, re-purposing, re-cycling, reduced food miles, etc) and the market will implement green initiatives (ex: no plastic shopping bags)."  
The Downtown Farmer's Market in Florence will be open every Wednesday from 3:00 to 7:30 pm. Hope to see you there!