Did you know that for every dollar you spend at a grocery store, only 25 cents goes back into the local economy? Compare that to a farmers' market - for every dollar you spend here, 62 cents stays local, and 99 cents stay within your state. Multiply that by the ever-growing number of farmers' market shoppers in the US, and the effect is huge.

The secret about farmers' markets, though, is that their real value is so much more than that.

If you spend enough time at EFM, you won't just see shoppers supporting local growers and makers. You'll see family outings, Saturday morning dates, dog walks, and bike rides. You'll see enthusiastic vendors excited to share their passion with interested community members. You'll see people of all stripes sharing so much more than just produce.

Some anthropologists believe that gathering to cook and share food may be the exact catalyst that turned us into the human beings we are today. The wonderful thing about being a social species is that we are at our best together. So when you're at the market this weekend, say hi to a stranger. Ask a vendor a question about one of their products and watch them get in the zone as they tell you everything you need to know. Pet a dog (with permission)... AND buy some great food while you're at it!