When the leaves turn brown and the weather cools down, many markets open their doors again to offer seasonal fall produce.
New fruits and veggies will be popping up at farmers markets across the state. As summer harvests fade away, delicious sweet potatoes, squash, pumpkins, radishes, green leafy lettuce, kale, Swiss chards, turnips, sweet peppers and more will fill the stands at your favorite market.
Read MoreFarmers markets are great places to stock up on fresh produce and unique goods, but they can also be catalysts for change. Many farmers markets promote sustainability through environmentally-friendly practices. Check out some of the ways farmers markets are champions for the environment, and find out how you can do your part each time you shop.
Read MoreFarmers markets can be much more than a place to buy fresh produce. Food brings people together, and markets can often become pillars of their communities. As we continue to join in on the Farmer’s Market Celebration, we’re highlighting markets that foster community. By creating a central gathering place, bringing people of all walks of life together, or celebrating the uniqueness of their hometowns, these Arizona farmers markets have done just that:
Read MoreAs the summer goes on, so does the Farmers Market Celebration! We’re continuing to raise awareness about how impactful farmers markets are, and how much they benefit our communities. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be focusing on how farmers markets become pillars of community and bring people together. Many farmers markets celebrate the uniqueness of their hometowns, and many act as a central gathering place for neighbors and vendors.
Read MoreWhen a farmers market opens in a neighborhood, the entire community benefits. These markets often act as important points of access for healthy food for community members who need it the most. This week, we’re highlighting more Arizona markets that go above and beyond in championing healthy food for all as we take part in the American Farmland Trust’s Farmers Market Celebration.
Read MoreFarmers markets play an important role in bringing healthy food to all Arizonans. Over the next few weeks, we’re highlighting a few of our Arizona markets that go above and beyond when it comes to serving neighborhoods and community members who need it the most.
Read MoreThe American Farmland Trust’s Farmers Market Celebration is raising awareness about the importance of farmers markets to growers and communities across the country, and we’re taking part in it all summer long. Our focus over the next few weeks is on farmers markets and the people that go above and beyond in bringing healthy food to neighborhoods that need it the most. Many farmers markets assist low-income neighbors, work with vulnerable seniors, donate food to local food banks, or accept federal food and nutrition program benefits.
Read MoreOver the next few months, Double Up Food Bucks Arizona is highlighting our incredible markets and growers as part of the American Farmland Trust’s Farmers Market Celebration. We reached out to a few markets that go above and beyond when it comes to supporting family farmers and educating their communities about the issues family farmers face.
Read MoreRead More“Now is the time for our country to recognize and call on family farmers’ ingenuity, strength and value to our past and our future. We can have strong local economies, green energy, a clean environment, healthy citizens and good food – all of these start with family farmers.”
– Willie Nelson, Farm Aid President
Planting and harvesting may be the last tasks on your mind during our Arizona summers, but the heat doesn’t mean you have to hang up your gardening gloves for the season. There are tons of edible plants you can grow during the summer, whether it’s in the comfort of your own home or outside. Spice up your summer meals and keep your thumb green with these home-grown veggies and herbs!
Read MoreMost of us know how to use the lettuce, tomatoes, onions and potatoes we bring home from the farmers market each week. But if you’re browsing your local market’s stands this summer, you might come across some unfamiliar, seasonal veggies. Don’t skip over these delicious finds! If you do, you’re missing out on learning about new ingredients, recipes and flavors. Plus, shopping for in-season produce can save money, as these items are often cheaper and more abundant than others at the market.
Read MoreDouble Up Food Bucks can help you stretch your food budget, but there are plenty of ways to stretch it even further. We want to help you get the most out of your money! Let’s set the scene: You’ve just returned from the farmers market with a trove of fresh fruits and veggies for you and your family. You’ve sliced, diced, chopped, and cubed everything you need for your next healthy meal, but what happens to the excess?
Read MoreIf you visit your local farmers market this June, you might find yourself leaving with eggs, honey, tortillas, and tons of fresh produce. If you’re shopping with your SNAP Quest card at participating markets, you’ll be heading home with even more in-season, Arizona-grown fruits and veggies.
Wondering what to do with all of your fresh finds? Check out these “5 Token Recipes” to start stretching your food budget. The ingredients for these recipes can all be purchased at your local market for approximately $5 spent on your SNAP card, plus your $5 worth of Double Up tokens. Many of these recipes will also leave you with leftover ingredients to use for other dishes.
Read MoreMay is National Salad Month! With warmer months approaching, now is a perfect opportunity to give your oven a rest and cool off with a lighter meal. There are so many wonderful things about salads - they're nutritious, colorful and hearty, and can be made in countless ways.
In Arizona, we are lucky to have access to some of the best salad fixings in the summertime. Building a salad chock full of seasonally available produce will save you money, and guarantee a fresh bowl of nutritious, local produce. This infographic will guide you through building a salad with produce you can find at your local farmers markets this summer! Don’t forget to double your salad bounty with Double Up Food Bucks at participating markets.
Read MoreLast week, we celebrated an exciting launch of a new farmers market in El Oso Park in Maryvale, a community located in west Phoenix that has low access to quality food sources. We’re thrilled to work with local organizations and growers to help increase access to healthy food for this community, and hope this effort can serve as an example of the benefits of farmers markets in food insecure areas across the state.
A recent Feeding America study found that 15.8 percent of Arizonans are food insecure. Urban sprawl, lack of grocery stores and inadequate public transportation leave many who reside in food desert communities with the task of traveling though the extreme Arizona heat for basic needs and groceries. Many rural communities face similar challenges. Farmers markets can help bridge this gap and increase access to healthier food in every community.
Read MoreThere are many misconceptions and myths about farmers markets and local goods. Is it really more expensive to buy produce at a market instead of a grocery store? Aren’t organic fruits in the produce section the same as those at market stands? Once you learn more about the misconceptions of farmers markets, you may find you’d like to try shopping at one.
Local farmers markets are great for families, farmers and communities, so why not try something fun and fresh? If you get the chance, check out a market in your neighborhood this season!
Read MoreIf it’s your first time planning a trip to your local farmers market, you may not know what to expect. What should you bring with you? If you’re using your SNAP Quest Card and Double Up Food Bucks, where should you go first? Get the most out of your shopping trip with these tips:
1. Plan ahead.
When it comes to shopping for food, going in with a game plan saves time at the market and cuts down on food waste. Research some recipes beforehand, and have a clear purpose for all the food on your grocery list. It also helps to know which fruits and veggies will be in season at the time of your shopping trip. Here’s a helpful guide to Arizona’s in-season fruits and veggies.
If you shop with your SNAP Quest card at participating farmers markets, you can double up on Arizona-grown produce with Double Up Food Bucks.
Double Up Food Bucks matches each dollar you spend with a Double Up token, up to $10 a day. That means if you buy $10 worth of eggs, bread or other SNAP eligible food items at the market, you will get $10 to spend on fresh Arizona-grown fruits and vegetables.
Learn more about Double Up Food Bucks and find a participating market near you: http://www.doubleupfoodbucksarizona.org
“An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”
We all know the saying, but sometimes getting enough fresh fruits and veggies in our diets is easier said than done. Between busy days and tight wallets, it can be difficult to prioritize nutritious produce on our shopping lists.
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