360PR Blog

Summer starts late in Boston but one sure sign it has arrived is the opening of our local farmers’ markets. 360PR’s office is just a few steps from a small but wonderful little farmers’ market in Copley Square that just reopened for the season.

Last year I made the most delicious jam using our client’s Ball Freezer Jars and Freezer Jam Fruit Pectin and strawberries from Atlas Farm that I picked up at this market. Late in the season I frantically froze blueberries with my other client’s FoodSaver vacuum sealer so that I could use local berries during the winter. That’s right – I don’t just do my clients’ PR, I’m also a user. And I’ve been dreaming about the return of summer produce for months.

I’m not alone. According to the USDA there are more than 4,300 farmers’ markets in the U.S., up from 2,700 10 years ago and 1,755 in 1994. With the local food or locavore movement gaining steam, we can look forward to enjoying fresh and delicious foods from local farms for seasons to come.

There has been a lot of talk in the media about the benefits of eating local…and there are plenty. It’s good for your taste buds – local food tastes better because it doesn’t have to travel and is fresher when you buy it. It’s good for the environment – cutting down on transporting food means less impact on the environment. It’s good for your community – buying from local farmers boosts your local economy. I’ve just named a few of the dominant benefits here but check out this article from TreeHugger.com for more detail.

Happy summer and happy eating!

Filed under: 360 Public Relations, Boston, Food Industry, Green Marketing |