The Boise Farmers Market
Growing Food - Growing Farmers - Growing Ideas – Growing Community
The Boise Farmers Market will establish a new standard for farmers markets in the Treasure Valley. Its focus:
- Locally grown foods sold by the farmer. A wide assortment of foods and agricultural products will be offered.
- Value added products with a local emphasis. Customers can expect on-site food, specialty foods, and other value added items to contain as much locally grown products as possible.
- Accountability to the customer. All goods sold at the Boise Farmers Market will be grown or made by the producer.
- Information about local food and farming issues. The Boise Farmers Market will be a place where the public can learn about relationship of local food and farms to our health, our economy, and our culture.
- Growing new farmers. Through an innovative partnership between established farmers and those exploring the occupation, The Boise Farmers Market will help ensure our local food supply.
- Sustainability and community resilience. The Boise Farmers Market will focus on meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to do the same through its operation and community partnerships.
Farmers markets have a long history of being more than merely a place to exchange goods. The Boise Farmers Market is committed to playing an important role in fostering new ideas in Boise and the regional food system.
Vision: The Boise Farmers Market is a community marketplace where local food and agricultural products are available year round and where the community can learn about and become engaged in food system issues. The Market is a catalyst and incubator for local food-related activities in the region, and helps to build personal and community self-reliance.
Mission: The Boise Farmers Market supports a regenerative, healthy food and agricultural system by operating a vibrant marketplace featuring locally grown and crafted products
Why Buy Local?
Because! 10 Reasons to Buy & Eat Local!
* Buying & eating local means more for the local economy - According to a study by the New Economics Foundation in London, a dollar spent locally generates twice as much income for the local economy. When businesses are not owned locally, money leaves the community at every transaction.
* Locally grown produce is fresher. While produce that is purchased in the supermarket or at a big-box store has been in transit or cold-stored for days or weeks, produce purchased at your local farmers market has often been picked within 24 hours of your purchase. This freshness not only affects the taste of your food, it also affects the nutritional value which declines with time.
* Locally grown food just plain tastes better. Ever tried a tomato that was picked with 24 hours? Need we say more?
* Locally grown fruits and vegetables have longer to ripen. Because the produce will be handled less, locally grown fruit doesn’t have to be “rugged” or stand up to the rigors of shipping. This means that you are going to be getting peaches so ripe that they fall apart as you eat them. Melons allowed to ripen until the last possible minute on the vine tastes much better than those filled with gas for transporting.
* Buying local food is better for air quality an pollution than eating organic. In a March 2005 study by the journal Food Policy, it was found that the miles that organic food often travels to our plate create environmental damage that outweighs the benefit of buying organic.
* Buying and eating locally grown food keeps us in touch with the seasons. By purchasing and eating with the seasons, we are eating foods when they are at their peak taste, are the most abundant, and the least expensive.
* Buying locally grown food makes for a great story. Whether it’s the farmer who brings apples to the market or the baker who makes bread, knowing part of the story about your food is a powerful part of enjoying a meal.
* Buying & eating local helps protect us from bioterrorism. Food with less distance to travel from farm to plate is less susceptible to harmful contamination.
* Local food translates to more variety. When a farmer is producing food that will not travel a long distance, will have a shorter shelf life, and does not have a high- yield demand, the farmer is free to try small crops of various fruits and vegetables that would probably never make it to a large supermarket.
* Supporting local providers supports responsible land development. When you buy local, you give those with local open space – farms and pastures – an economic reason to stay open and undeveloped.
* Buying & eating local means more for the local economy - According to a study by the New Economics Foundation in London, a dollar spent locally generates twice as much income for the local economy. When businesses are not owned locally, money leaves the community at every transaction.
* Locally grown produce is fresher. While produce that is purchased in the supermarket or at a big-box store has been in transit or cold-stored for days or weeks, produce purchased at your local farmers market has often been picked within 24 hours of your purchase. This freshness not only affects the taste of your food, it also affects the nutritional value which declines with time.
* Locally grown food just plain tastes better. Ever tried a tomato that was picked with 24 hours? Need we say more?
* Locally grown fruits and vegetables have longer to ripen. Because the produce will be handled less, locally grown fruit doesn’t have to be “rugged” or stand up to the rigors of shipping. This means that you are going to be getting peaches so ripe that they fall apart as you eat them. Melons allowed to ripen until the last possible minute on the vine tastes much better than those filled with gas for transporting.
* Buying local food is better for air quality an pollution than eating organic. In a March 2005 study by the journal Food Policy, it was found that the miles that organic food often travels to our plate create environmental damage that outweighs the benefit of buying organic.
* Buying and eating locally grown food keeps us in touch with the seasons. By purchasing and eating with the seasons, we are eating foods when they are at their peak taste, are the most abundant, and the least expensive.
* Buying locally grown food makes for a great story. Whether it’s the farmer who brings apples to the market or the baker who makes bread, knowing part of the story about your food is a powerful part of enjoying a meal.
* Buying & eating local helps protect us from bioterrorism. Food with less distance to travel from farm to plate is less susceptible to harmful contamination.
* Local food translates to more variety. When a farmer is producing food that will not travel a long distance, will have a shorter shelf life, and does not have a high- yield demand, the farmer is free to try small crops of various fruits and vegetables that would probably never make it to a large supermarket.* Supporting local providers supports responsible land development. When you buy local, you give those with local open space – farms and pastures – an economic reason to stay open and undeveloped.
