Exploring New Mexico's Farmers' Market

Spring is in the air, summer is just around the corner, and farmer’s markets are beginning to stretch their legs. The last several weekends saw the Los Ranchos Growers' Market and Corrales Growers' Market become some of the first Albuquerque area farmers’ markets to open for the season. Over the next several weeks more and more markets will open around the city and around the state.

By now everyone is aware that buying fresh, locally grown foods is good for a variety of reasons. Doing so supports the local economy, encourages families to eat freshly grown fruits and vegetables, and helps ensure that local farmers and other food growers will continue to thrive. In addition, the hard work of the vendors, organizers, and managers of our local farmers’ markets give us plenty of other reasons to frequent the markets in our area. Many of them have demonstrations of how to prepare food, others have live music, and it is always interesting to talk to the people who work so hard to grow the food they sell. Growers are eager to share their knowledge and experiences. Workshops are offered at many locations. Often going to a farmers’ market will introduce you to new foods. You can visit the amazing website farmersmarketsnm.org for locations and hours of farmers’ markets around the state, as well as a calendar of events and information on how to use government programs like electronic food stamps and WIC at your local market.

Also, be sure to visit the library for cookbooks for your fresh market produce and guides on eating locally produced foods.  New cookbooks are always being added to the catalog, so check back often for the very latest! Here are some suggestions to get you started:

Cookbooks with recipes using fresh, seasonal foods:

Cook This Now: 120 Easy and Delectable Dishes You Can’t Wait To Make by Melissa Clark

The Harvest Eating Cookbook: More Than 200 Recipes for Cooking With Seasonal Local Ingredients by Keith Snow

Cooking In the Moment: A Year of Seasonal Recipes by Andrea Reusing

The Farm: Rustic Recipes for a Year of Incredible Food by Ian Knauer

Clean Food: A Seasonal Guide to Eating Close to the Source by Terry Walters

Books on local growing and sustainability:

Growing Roots: The New Generation of Sustainable Farmers, Cooks and Food Activists: Stories and Recipes by Katherine Leiner

Complete Idiot’s Guide to Eating Local by Diane A. Welland

Happy Go Local: The Smart Mom’s Guide to Living the Good and Sustainable Life by Linsly Donnelly

Books to rethink food:

The American Way of Eating: Undercover At Walmart, Applebee’s, Farm Fields and the Dinner Tables by Tracie McMillan

Fair Food: Growing a Healthy, Sustainable Food System for All by Oran B. Hesterman

Food Rules: An Eater’s Manifesto by Michael Pollan

DVD documentaries on food:

Farmageddon

Dive! Living Off America's Waste


The Garden


Food Stamped (Features a scene filmed at the Santa Fe Farmers' Market!)


See you at the farmers' market!