Local farmers’ markets are not only a great source for healthy food and family fun, but also an opportunity for consumers to form a direct and meaningful relationship with local food producers.

The benefits of shopping at farmers’ markets are plentiful and can positively impact your health, environment, community and local economy.

By allowing direct interaction with food producers, farmers’ markets increase education about the foods consumers are eating, allowing for healthful and betterinformed dietary decisions.

Farmers’ markets can also encourage children to learn about local food varieties, participate in their own food selection, and develop healthy eating habits at a young age.

The variety of locally produced foods offered at farmers’ markets can increase the level and diversity of nutrients the purchaser consumes. Studies show that fruits and vegetables begin to lose their nutrients upon harvest, suggesting that locally produced foods contain more nutrients than those that travel longdistances between harvest and market.

Not only do local foods have more nutrients, they also taste better, because they are fresher. Farmers’ markets offer the freshest fruits, vegetables, dairy, grain and protein sources that are packed with flavor and taste. Often, market vendors provide samples of different nutrient-rich food selections along with recipes on how to cook new foods, which could lead to a broader range of food selections.

From an environmental standpoint, purchasing at farmers’ markets is a greener choice than shopping at the grocery store. Shipping foods long distances contributes to a large carbon footprint and also requires more packaging that is not needed when foods are purchased direct from the farmer.

Purchasing food at a farmers’ market also ensures that the dollars spent are reinvested in the local economy. Actively supporting local agriculture guarantees community access to fresh, local foods and contributes to food security within the region. Buying local strengthens the local economy and the community as a whole.

Farmers’ markets provide access to fresh, local foods for individuals of any income. In fact, studies show that most fruits and vegetables sold at farmers’ markets are comparable in price or even cheaper than fruits and vegetables sold at the grocery store.

In addition, there is a movement afoot to help farmers’ markets accept SNAP/EBT benefits — the program formerly known as food stamps — and other initiatives that address the low-income families’ access to local foods.

In Maine, there are already 23 farmers’ markets that accept SNAP/EBT — a 100 percent increase from 2011-12.

Beginning this spring, Access Health, your local Healthy Maine Partnership, and the Maine Federation of Farmers’ Markets will be working with local farmers’ markets in Sagadahoc County to initiate EBT programs, allowing all individuals in Sagadahoc County to get local, fresh food.

Shopping and eating locally connects you to your local community.

If you already know and love your local farmers’ markets, please continue to support local farms by being a frequent, active consumer.

If you have not yet visited your local farmers’ market, hopefully you will find the time to visit soon. Find your local market at www.mainefarmersmarkets.org.

COLLEEN HANLON-SMITH is executive director of the Maine Federation of Farmers’ Markets.

COLLEEN FULLER is a prevention specialist at Access Health.