Visiting a Rochester farmers market or a Rochester public market is a wonderful opportunity for multiple reasons. For one, you spend money on things that are made or produced locally, thereby doing your part for your community. For another, you have chances to speak directly with the growers and the manufacturers of these products, giving you plentiful insight into the production of these materials. You additionally get to do your part for the environment, since fewer trucks need to come into town to get these foods and goods to you.

By spending your money at a Rochester market, you keep locally earned money in the local marketplace. You in effect do your part by keeping this money local and by avoiding spending all of your paycheck on purchasing produce and other goods from big box retailers. You rarely know where these products are coming from anyway, but with vendors at a Rochester market you do know. Usually, they have businesses within 50 or so miles of the Rochester area, meaning that money gets to stay in the Rochester economy, further strengthening it.

By purchasing goods at a Rochester market, you additionally have more chances to talk directly with the makers of these products. If you buy honey from a vendor, for instance, you could ask about that honey manufacturer’s process and learn whether pesticides or other preservatives were being used to keep these products fresh. Usually the vendors are owners of these businesses, and they are extremely invested in keeping customers happy. They supply high quality products because their care is much more dedicated too, and in many instances they will tell you their entire process. So in this case, you know exactly where your foods and your goods are coming from.

By buying local at a Rochester market, you help to reduce the city’s carbon footprint too, since fewer vehicles need to drive into town to deliver fruits and vegetables. The more people who purchase their goods at a Rochester market, the lesser the likelihood that these trucks overpopulate the town and the higher the likelihood that higher quality products are getting into Rochester households. These trucks require expensive gas to travel, so in many instances the costs for these products are higher at the big box stores. So you cut down on the environmental impact that these companies have and you often save a few bucks as well.