Angela Jamison is a native Montanan and she grew up in beautiful Bozeman. I'm the mother of two girls and write a blog about our life here and taking in the simple pleasures of family and food.
A sure sign that summer has arrived is the return of farmers markets. Of course there are some states where these happen year round, even here in Bozeman we have a handful of winter farmers markets. You know you have a growing trend when a market begins popping up even when it’s the middle of January, sub zero temps with a snowstorm outside…and people still show up. In fact, farmers markets have gained such popularity that in the past six years the amount of them in the United States has nearly doubled! This makes me so happy. To see a growth for something that is such a vital part of our food system, community and environment. Farmers markets have been around in some form or another for hundreds of years. Perhaps changing and evolving over time, but with the same general concept. My own experience began as a kid visiting the Bogert Farmers Market on Saturday mornings, the most memorable being the time we came home with a free kitten. My experiences have continued after visiting different ones throughout our state…from eating the best peach I have ever had at a tiny farmers market in Seeley Lake to wandering for hours through Missoula’s eclectic markets. Outside of Montana I’ve strolled through the tourist filled markets in wine country in California to many times visiting the huge and well known Portland Saturday Morning Market. Each of the these farmers markets were unique, but the message was always the same.
Know Your Farmer, Support your Neighbors
The farm to table concept is never more true than when shopping at a farmers market. Here you can buy fruits and produce that were most likely picked earlier that day. You get exactly what is in season and freshest at that moment. It cultivates responsible eating and consuming. Often you can talk directly to the farmer. You can hear their passion for growing great food, how they do it, if it’s organic and what they use if it’s not. You are supporting these farmers and encouraging them to continue. Tasting the deliciousness that comes from eating things that grew in our strong Montana dirt under our bright blue skies. This leads directly into the next….
Caring for our Planet
When you buy at a farmers market you are part of the environmental solution. The transit time is almost nothing. This means the tomato you eat didn’t have to travel for days by plane or truck to get to you. On top of that there is no packaging, simply throw it in whatever bag you may bring for your goodies. On top of THAT you get a tomato that was possibly still on the vine earlier that day, not plucked a week ago and then transported for miles to get to the store. Less travel, less packaging, less chemicals…and it tastes a whole heck of a lot better. Win-win.
Community
Farmers markets empower people to become supporters of their community. Every time you buy something at a market you are supporting your neighbors rather than big business. It reminds us that we are a community and encourages us to care about each other. It’s easy to get desensitized while standing in line with another at the grocery store or Target. At the market you stand in line and maybe start a conversation. People aren’t shopping there in a hurry on their way home from work or as part of a weekly grocery trip chore, they are there because they want to be so everyone is happier. We are kinder to one another. The person helping you is not someone just doing their job, they are someone who put their heart and soul into the product. An artist can tell you the inspiration for her product, a food vendor can tell you what made him fall in love with the idea of having a food truck. You get to see the passion…the local musician playing for you as you wander through…you feel inspired watching people in our community following their dreams. You feel proud to be a part of that community.
Family
Visiting a farmers market with your family or friends takes you back to simple times in our highly distracted lives. There are no apps, no groupons, no self-check out machines. It is easy to head to the nearest farmers market, listen to some music, grab some local food, pick up some produce for the week, enjoy the beautiful hand-made crafts and artwork, sit in the grass, soak up the sunshine, run into old friends, people watch. Simply be together. Creating traditions from one generation to the next so farmers markets continue to thrive and increase.
Many things can change in a town. Bozeman in particular has changed so much over the years and will probably continue to do so. Growing, population increasing. Long time businesses closing and new ones popping up each week. One thing you can count on here is our farmers markets. Whether it’s Bogert on Tuesdays or the Fairgrounds on Saturdays these community traditions continue even as things change around them. The sense of community and pride remains the same. It’s a good constant. Just as I remember leaving a farmers market with a grey and white kitten, my kids will remember Tuesday night farmers markets, digging dollars out of their piggy banks to buy ice cream. The beautiful tradition of a good old fashion farmers market continues.