Point: Washington
According to the American Farmland Trust, three of DC area Farmer's Markets are among the best in the entire country. Smart Markets at Mason in Fairfax, the Crossroads Farmer's Market in Takoma Park and Bloomingdale Farmer's Market all made top marks.
Farmer's markets have more than doubled in the past 15 years to more than 4,600 nationwide.
The markets are also a great place if you are looking to buy organic products; however if you do not see an organic seal, ask the farmer to be sure.
The benefits of buying local are numerous.
First, there is the fresh factor; pretty much anything you find at a farmer's market will be fresher than your local grocery store and keep in mind, fresher often means tastier and more nutritious.
Second, by buying local you are directly supporting the local economy and the livelihoods of local farmers.
You can visit localharvest.org to find a farmer's market near you in Washington or nationwide.
Local Harvest is a great database which includes locations of farmer's markets, Co-op's and the farms themselves. I pulled up 19 farmer's markets for zip code 22307 alone!
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