Eight Reasons to Shop at a Farmers' Market

A farmers’ market allows you to:

1. Eat fresher food that tastes great and is more nutritious
2. Support the regional economy and pass more profit back to the farmer
3. Help the environment: your food travels fewer miles to reach you and well-managed farms help preserve the ecosystem
4. Talk with the farmers and producers about agricultural practices, including organic methods and how animals are raised
5. Preserve local farming systems and open landscapes
6. Learn to cook what’s in season and eat more unique varieties than you find elsewhere
7. Build a tighter community: take part in the “village square” atmosphere of the market 
8. Sustain rural heritage and lifestyles

Here are the three Saratoga County outdoor markets run by Saratoga Farmers’ Market Association, and their locations and hours for 2013:

• The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is now open twice a week at High Rock Park in downtown Saratoga Springs: Wednesdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 
• The Malta Farmers’ Market will be open Tuesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. beginning June 4th in the Allerdice parking lot at 2570 Route 9, just south of Malta Community Center. 
• The Clifton Park Farmers’ Market will be open Thursdays from 2 to 5 p.m. beginning July 11th in the parking lot of St. George’s Church, 912 Route 146 (near the intersection of Moe Road).