Why You Should Check Out a Local Farmer’s Market

Posted on January 6, 2025 by Fill Your Plate

By Heide Kennedy, Arizona Farm Bureau Communications Intern

When you’re in need of groceries, what’s your go-to source? Maybe it’s a quick trip to your closest grocery store. Maybe you do a grocery delivery service. Or, if you’re like my mom, you make bi-weekly trips to Costco and Sam’s Club to stock up all at once. Another grocery shopping option you might consider trying out is your local farmer’s market! Besides just being a fun environment, there are lots more reasons to do your shopping there!

Farmers Markets

(photo credit: BigStockPhoto.com)

 

It’s a good outdoor activity.

Most farmer’s markets are all held outdoors, where you can walk up and down aisles and aisles of vendors. This can be a fun way to get out of the house, get your groceries, and also get some movement in all at the same time! Plus, it’s even better when the weather is nice outside!

 

You get fresher products.

Often, all of the products that vendors bring to the market are all freshly picked, or freshly made and haven’t been sitting on store shelves for a while. This means you’ll get the best taste, quality, and least preservatives in your foods.

 

You’re supporting local farmers and producers.

When you buy grocery items from a farmer’s market, you’re choosing to support local farmers and producers right here in Arizona! Not only are you helping them to grow their business, but you’re also getting some of the best food products available!

 

You can find more unique options.

I love seeing all the weird and unique fruits, and that these smaller, more focused growers bring to each market. Similarly, those who bring baked goods or other prepared foods also tend to bring unique items as well. I’ve noticed that farmer’s markets in Arizona are also one of the best places to get authentic Mexican foods, such as homemade tamales, tortillas, salsa, and chips.

 

So, the next time that you’re in need of some groceries, or when you’re just looking for something to do outdoors, consider finding a nearby farmer’s market and checking out all that they have to offer!

Check out the list below of some farmer’s markets happening around Arizona!

As always, if you want to learn more about Arizona agriculture, health, or nutrition, check out the Fill Your Plate blog! Plus, Fill Your Plate has a searchable database of farmers’ markets across the state.

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Slow Aging From the Inside Out

Posted on January 3, 2025 by Fill Your Plate

By Heide Kennedy, Arizona Farm Bureau Communications Intern

 

As people age, they often turn to creams, and lotions, and other supplements that are supposed to slow down the aging process and preserve their youthfulness. Did you know that there are actually certain foods that work from the inside out, helping you to live longer and look younger? Freshman 15

The source of these youthfulness and longevity-promoting benefits lies in plant compounds called polyphenols.  Polyphenols are known for having anti-aging properties, slowing brain aging, improving the immune system, protecting against age relate diseases, and lowering blood pressure, cholesterol, and inflammation.

The difference between polyphenols and any other anti-aging solutions is that polyphenols address the root of the problem. According to registered dietician-nutritionist Amy Chamberlain, these compounds help to slow or mitigate the processes of aging at a cellular and molecular level.

Polyphenol supplements do exist, but getting polyphenols from your food is much easier and more cost-effective. Fruits and vegetables are incredibly rich in these compounds. There are over 8,000 different polyphenols, and they all contribute to the smell and color of foods. Kimberlain says that the best way to get a healthy dose of polyphenols is to eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. Don’t just limit yourself to a few kinds!

Arizona agriculture grows lots of fresh fruits and vegetables that are perfect for incorporating into your diet! Check out your local grocery store or farmer’s market and eat more polyphenol-rich foods!

For more health-related articles, check out the Fill Your Plate blog!

 

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Give Odd Vegetables a Try!

Posted on December 30, 2024 by Fill Your Plate

By Heide Kennedy, Arizona Farm Bureau Communications Intern

Do you ever walk through the produce section of a grocery store, or up and down the booths at a farmers’ market and just look at some of the odd fruits and vegetables? Some of them look so weird that you wouldn’t be surprised if they came straight out of a Dr. Seuss book! Some of these different and lesser-known fruits and vegetables are gaining more attention lately because despite their odd looks, many of them are very delicious and nutritious!

The following is a list from registered dietician Janet Helm, of some odd vegetables that are not only pretty yummy but also very good for you.

 

  1. Celeriac

Celeriac root is the ugly relative to its better-known cousin, celery. Celeriac tastes kind of like a celery-flavored potato. This sounds weird, but celeriac is good when shredded into salads, roasted, or turned into a low-carbohydrate mashed potato alternative. Celeriac is a good source of vitamins C and K, fiber, phosphorous, manganese, molybdenum, and potassium.

  1. Romanesco

Romanesco is an incredibly eye-catching relative of broccoli and cauliflower. It’s green in color and covered in swirly points. It tastes like a milder, sweeter, nuttier version of broccoli or cauliflower. It’s good raw, blanched, roasted, steamed, or sauteed. It’s a good source of vitamin C, folate, fiber, and polyphenols.

  1. Sunchokes

Sunchokes are another ugly root vegetable, and as their name implies, they have a slight artichoke taste. They are good raw, baked, roasted, steamed, braised, sauteed, fried, or mashed. The skin can be peeled or eaten, and if left on, provides a good source of fiber. Sunchokes offer vitamin B1, and iron.

  1. Chayote

Chayote is an odd, pear-shaped summer squash. Its taste is like a cross between a cucumber and a zucchini. It’s good used in soups, salads, or roasted. It’s less starchy than other squashes, making it lower in carbohydrates. It’s also a good source of vitamin C.

  1. Purslane

Purslane is actually a weed that is probably growing in your backyard right now. Most don’t realize that it is actually edible and is used in other countries both for food and medicinal benefits. It has a tart, lemony and peppery flavor similar to arugula. It’s a great addition to salads, and it offers a good source of vitamins C, A, and K, as well as magnesium.

  1. Maitake mushrooms

Maitake mushrooms are a cool, fan-shaped mushroom that is gaining popularity in restaurants. Often, they are served in wraps, burgers, soups, and salads. They are an amazing source of vitamin D, with a one-cup serving providing 99% of the daily value of vitamin D. They are also a good source of riboflavin, niacin, and copper.

 

Just because a food looks weird or is less popular doesn’t mean it doesn’t deserve a place in our kitchens. Check out some of these foods at your local grocery store or farmers market and give them a try!

For more articles about food, check out the Fill Your Plate blog!

 

 

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Coffee – A New Approach to Skincare

Posted on December 27, 2024 by Fill Your Plate

By Heide Kennedy, Arizona Farm Bureau Communications Intern

I don’t know about you, but I’ll use any excuse I can possibly find to justify my love of coffee. Luckily, this article is about to explain yet another benefit to regularly consuming coffee. Read on to learn more about how coffee could arguably be called a beauty product!

Did you know that coffee has been shown to promote healthy skin and reduce signs of skin aging? That’s right! Your morning cup of joe helps to keep you looking young and fresh! So how can coffee do that? Dermatologist Hannah Kopelman says that coffee is chock full of polyphenols. These are plant compounds that have so many amazing health benefits. The polyphenols in coffee combat oxidative stress in the skin, improve skin elasticity, promote hydration, and delay wrinkles and other signs of aging.

While all coffee contains polyphenols, dermatologist Tyler Long says that these polyphenols are very heat-sensitive. This means that coffee beans that were roasted longer have less of a polyphenol content than beans that were exposed to less heat. So, your dark roasts aren’t as powerful as your lighter roasts. Kopelman says that espresso is probably your best bet for reaping the skin benefits of coffee, as espresso beans are a lighter roast, and the espresso shot is much more concentrated than drip coffee.

So, not only does it wake you up, but you can now consider your morning cup of coffee a part of your skin-care regimen!

For more articles on coffee, check out the Fill Your Plate blog!

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It’s Christmas! Celebrate this Special Holiday with Fill Your Plate

Posted on December 23, 2024 by Fill Your Plate

Who loves Christmas? Who loves Hanukkah? Who simply loves this time of year? We do!

For all the busyness of the holiday season, it’s still our most special time. We extend to you a special “thank you” for hanging out with Fill Your Plate this last year and hope to have you hang out with us in 2025. We’ll be covering all sorts of nutritional topics and issues just like we did this last year.

In the meantime, enjoy this list of Fill Your Plate’s past Holiday season articles and Christmas articles. And, Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!

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