Dear Editor,

It’s Farmers’ Market season in Warren, PA, and there are definitely many advantages to buying food at our farmers’ market.

I have been encouraged to shop locally and support small local business. One way is supporting local farmers and small business owners. Local farmers and small business owners need the money and maybe more than the traditional grocery or big box retailers. Many times, small farms are just getting their start, and don’t have a lot of financial backing. It’s up to the shoppers at the farmers market to decide if we like what they’re selling, and support them so that their businesses will prosper. Often I find that I have become attached to the businesses I buy my products from. I often buy plants from one of the vendors and tomatoes from another. One of the farmers market vendors has the bake goods I really enjoy.

Others I always stop at because I enjoy a friendly and talkative grower who is passionate about what they do and I want to see them succeed. This creates an excellent opportunity to communicate with those who grow or make the foods that we eat. I know of no better way to find out what’s in my food then being able to talk to the person who grows it and sells it. With the grower right there, I can find out if the produce I am thinking about purchasing are organic or not. We can find out all these intricate details by talking to the grower, which you couldn’t do by shopping at a chain store. Most of the growers and business owners I have met are more than willing to talk about their product and educate me about them.

I believe it is healthier and more sustainable to eat food that is locally grown. We support the concept that eating food grown in the local area cuts down on the costs, energy and natural resources needed to ship the food to us. When we cut down on the natural resources used to transport your food to you, we are doing our part in helping and caring for the environment in the region we call home.

The Warren Farmers’ Market is held outdoors, often in beautiful sunshine and fresh air. It gets me out for a walk down Liberty Street I have an opportunity to stop at a favorite place for a cup or two of coffee and a quick breakfast.

And for me maybe one of the most important things is that it helps to build community in Warren and our downtown. We have the opportunity to talk with like-minded, health conscious, interesting individuals in our community. It may be the only time during the week that we are able to greet our neighbors and share the news of family and friends.

I hope you will join your friends and neighbors at Warren’s Farmers Market on Saturday.

Forward Together!

Doug Hearn,

Warren