Food for Thought: Farmer’s Market Pickings

Brightly colored peppers, uniquely-shaped zucchinis and plump juicy tomatoes lined the street this past Friday as people of all ages walked up and down the Downtown State College Farmer’s Market, hands full of everything from fresh cut flowers to pumpkin whoopie pies.

The farmer’s market is scheduled to run every Tuesday and Friday from 11:30-5:30 pm on Locust Lane (across from the HUB lawn) between College Avenue and Beaver Avenue until November 22. If you haven’t already, there’s good reason to stop by after class.

The fruits and veggies you purchase at the farmers market are the freshest there are. Produce is allowed to fully ripen, and then is immediately brought directly to you. Forget sitting in storage for weeks and gassing methods to quicken ripening, the food you’re looking at is as fresh and tasty as it gets.

Aside from being an overall healthier option, most everything at the farmer’s market is decently priced. If you’re looking to save a few bucks, hit the farmer’s market instead of the grocery store this week – you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

You can also grab some advice on how to cook the produce you buy. Most vendors are more than happy to share cooking tips about the foods they are selling, which is something every college student may need to know.

As apple season quickly falls upon us, make an outing with a few friends and pick up some apples, support your local community, and stop by the farmer’s market this week.

Photo by Shantelle Williams