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It's Farmers' Market season! Take advantage of your local produce

More than 85% of vendors at farmer's markets traveled less than 50 miles to sell their product. Compare that to supermarkets where, on average, fruits and vegetables take more than 1,200 miles to reach their destinations.

LONOKE, Ark. (KTHV) – Farmers’ market season has finally arrived in central Arkansas with many opening up for the first time this weekend.

Farmers’ markets are a great way to shop local and eat fresh. But farmer Rex Barnhill said the amount of people coming to the market is lower than he’d like.

"It's a big nut roll and it takes a lot to get ready. It's not just a one day thing,” Barnhill said.

Barnhill opened his family farm Barnhill Orchards over 30 years ago and every year he works around the clock to prepare for farmer's market season.

"I been growing some crops for six months and they're finally coming to fruition,” he said.

But he said lately not enough people are coming out to the local farmers markets.

"People just don't know about it. It's hard to reach people. it needs to be more populated,” he said.

His daughter, Katie Barnhill Zehr, said farmers’ markets are the families biggest source of income.

"We have a lot of produce we need to sell. It’s our main exposure for marketing and advertising,” she said.

But with strawberry season in full swing in Arkansas, Barnhill says now’s the time to get out and support your local farmers.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) agrees.

According to the USDA and their partner, the Farmer's Market Coalition, more than 85% of vendors at farmer's markets traveled less than 50 miles to sell their product. Compare that to supermarkets where, on average, fruits and vegetables take more than 1,200 miles to reach their destinations.

The Farmer's Market Coalition also says locally grown produce is picked at the peak of freshness and nutrition, meaning the quality and taste improves -- and that local is the way to go.

"I just say. Stop by and give me a look. Try it out and I promise you it'd be the best you've ever put in your mouth,” he said.

Barnhill Orchards will be at four farmers’ markets this weekend.

Those markets include:

  • Cabot Farmers’ Market
  • Fishtown Farmers’ Market in Lonoke
  • Hillcrest Farmers’ Market
  • Bernice Farmers’ Market

To find a farmer's market near you, simply visit this directory from USDA and input your zip code. The directory will also tell you what products are available and what payment methods are accepted for each farmer's market.

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