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Summer is almost over

Juicy tomatoes and melons, crisp lettuces, crunchy snap beans, and more line the tables this month at farmers markets across the country.  Local markets not only give consumers direct access to the season’s freshest bounty, they also provide an important source of income for small and family farmers.

“This is the sixth year in a row American Farmland Trust will sponsor the I Love My Farmers Market Celebration, a summer-long event to recognize family farmers and to raise awareness about the community markets,” said Andrew McElwaine, President and CEO of American Farmland Trust. 

“At a time when small and family farmers are struggling to make ends meet and stay on their land, farmers markets provide fresh, healthy food and help local farms survive.  The majority of our fresh fruits and vegetables are grown in the path of development. Without farmers markets this land may stop growing crops and grow condos instead.”

This year, the Celebration encourages shoppers to be a champion for local family farmers by pledging to shop at their farmers market each week throughout the summer. Shoppers can pledge once a week at the Celebration’s website, LoveMyFarmersMarket.org. Take the pledge today, the celebration ends Saturday, Sept. 13.