You’re traveling to a new or familiar place, you see some white tents huddled together, there are people selling and buying some goods, you see lots of smiles, people chatting and engaged, and you get curious, you want to know what’s going on, to participate, to explore and tap into some of that energy. Welcome to the unique flavor of the Sag Harbor Farmer’s Market in the South Fork of Long Island.

The beauty of a great food market is not simply that there’s lots of variety, but that the food being sold is fresh and mostly local. It feels good when you hand over your cash to the vendor and you know its going back into the community. There’s a sense that you’re voting with your dollars in real time without having to wait for an election. The vote counts now, the impact of your decision is felt immediately as you transfer money from your hand over to the farmer. Your dollar carries weight, because you get to determine what type of world you want to support.

Local farmers markets are vital not just for the economy of the local community, but for the health of the individuals that reside there too. We’re not talking about just any market. No, we’re talking about the non-commercialized variety, the ones that are mostly run and operated by a group of small family farms. The ones that strive to use non-GMO seeds. The ones that try not to pollute the soil with pest/herbicides, or maltreat their animals by imprisoning them into tight cages or pumping them with growth hormones. No – we’re referring to the conscientious farmers that care about the full natural cycle of their food. The ones that understand that it’s not all about profit, but about the people they feed and the environment that lends them the resources to do so.

If you happen to be out this summer in the East End, try to stop by some of the several farmers markets that are sprouting everywhere, and vote with your dollar.  Sag Harbor Farmer’s Market.

– From the Desk of Ana Nieto