When shopping for produce, honey, milk, bread, spices, or soaps, your local farmers market provide a healthy alternative to supermarkets and grocery stores. Because large commercial stores typically stock whatever products are the most cost effective, it is often impossible to know where their products come from, how they were grown, how long they have been in transit, and what other types of foods and chemicals they have come into contact with, and the employees who work there are unlikely to know any of this important information. In comparison, local farmers are enthusiastic to talk about exactly how their products are grown or made.

Terry from Artisan Breads in Waco, Texas, is a great example of this. In this interview, he discusses the differences between store-bought and hand-crafted breads. His wheat is grown on a private farm and is milled without the addition of any filler ingredients or preservatives. He uses higher quality spices and oils than what are found in commercial breads, and because he does not use preservatives, his breads are always sold fresh and recently made.

You don’t need to live in a rural area to find an authentic, local farmers’ market. Even large cities like Dallas, Austin, and Manhattan have markets. Check your local newspaper or community center for dates and locations, keeping in mind that smaller markets may only meet on weekends and only during the growing season between March and October. Talk with the farmers, ask questions, stay in touch with them, and help support local non-GMO agriculture.

—Jeff Riddle