
The first week of August is the National Farmers Markets Week, according to the latest figures, there are 6132 farmers markets in the nation, up from 5247 one year ago. In L.A. County, there are 96 certified markets.
Growing interest in farmers markets is driven by consumer concerns about food safety and a renewed focus on healthful eating. But they have also become fashionable.
Not everyone agrees, however, that the growth in farmers markets is proof of strong local food systems. Researchers at Franklin and Marshall College’s Local Economy recently released a study that suggested that it is largely wealthier urbanites who benefit from farmers markets. full story
LA Times launched a mapping project, where you can find local farmers markets simply key in your zipcode.
歡慶全美農夫市場周
八月份第一個禮拜是全美農夫市場周,目前全美共有6132個農夫市場,比2009年的5247個增加了不少。越來越多的消費者發現他們可以用合理的價錢,在農夫市場買到新鮮的產品,更重要的是他們可以直接與栽種這些蔬果的農夫交流,了解幕後的過程和故事。在南加州華人聚居的城市,華裔聚居的城市和地區,如阿罕布拉、蒙特利公園、南帕沙迪納、鑽石吧等,也紛紛增設受認證的農夫市場。
加州規定所有的農夫市場必須獲得政府認證,擺攤者都是出售自己栽種的農產品。民眾在逛農夫市場時,也可能會看到一些特別註明的標籤,以下提供幾項常見的例子:
●CNG:Certified Naturally Grown由獨立非營利機構認證,該產品達到與「全國有機標準」幾乎一樣的水平。
●Locally-Grown:這些食品與農產品都是在當地種植、生產、出售,然而這個標籤沒有受到全美管制。
●No Spray/Pesticide-Free:雖然這些產品並非有機,但是卻沒有使用任何殺蟲劑、除草劑、殺菌劑。
●Organically-Grown/Certified Organic:達到農業部設定的有機產品標準。
●Vegan:所有食物不含動物產品,如肉、乳、蛋、蜂蜜等。
●No Antibiotics:一些如牛、羊、豬、雞等都會注射抗生素以預防相關疾病傳染。此標籤表示農夫本身沒有負責處理注射抗生素事宜。

●No Hormones:被飼養的家畜都可能被注射荷爾蒙,一些是自然荷爾蒙,一些則是合成的,此標籤表示出售的肉類不含荷爾蒙。
●Humane:如果肉類產品含此標籤,說明農夫用愛心對待其動物,一些動物在大自然環境中被飼養,牠們擁有足夠的活動空間,擁有乾淨的食水及健康飼料,不含抗生素或荷爾蒙。並非所有的「人道」標籤受到管制。
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