By Parker Stanley
Our Position: More farmers and small businesses should start selling their products at the farmer’s market.
Throughout the years, the once beautiful garden market has now trickled down into a roadblock. There are only four to five stations set up now. And this is not just because of the current pandemic. This has been happening for well over the time since the time that coronavirus started.
I remember when I was little and would go to the farmer’s market every week. I would explore all the different booths to see what would be in store. Now as I bike past, all that remains are a few tents. I find myself wondering if the farmer’s market will become what it used to be after this global pandemic.
There used to be wonderful things to buy at the garden market, such as some stone sculptures I still have on my shelf, or some delicious pie. Even a knife sharpener showed up. Now there are only vegetable and fruit gardeners (which are still delicious).
Now you may be wondering if the farmer's market has any benefit for the town, and it does. It promises new jobs, and more property taxes for the village and the schools. It also added some sales tax revenue. It also helps support smaller companies. Who wants to give even more money to Bezos anyways?
I love the foods at the farmer’s market. And I know lots of people who would say the same. The reason for this is the real flavors. Most of the small companies don’t use preservatives or chemicals in their vegetables. So it’s safer for you to eat, as well as having a better taste.
Food travels, on average, 1,500 miles to your plate for you to eat. The shipping of this food mainly uses natural resources such as fossil fuel, which is also the most used one. And the packaging increases to our ever-growing trash problem. Local farmers do not do this because they do not have to. They are local, meaning they don’t have to travel as far, or use disposable packaging.
If not for me, or anybody else who wants the farmer’s market to return it’s former glory, do it for the environment. Or for the schools. Or just for the town of Western Springs.
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