The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced what many of us already suspected: urban farmers markets are springing up everywhere as the demand for fresh fruit and vegetables continues to skyrocket.

The blog Huff Post Food says the number of “direct-sales markets” has grown by almost 10% over the past year, with — surprise! — California and New York in the lead.

According to USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan, “Farmers markets are a critical ingredient to our nation’s food system,”  These outlets provide benefits not only to the farmers looking for important income opportunities, but also to the communities looking for fresh, healthy foods.”

Says Huff Post Food: “After 18 years of steady increases, the number of farmers markets across the country now registered with the USDA is 7,864. In 1994, there were 1,744,” adding that “organizations such as Slow Food, founded in 1989 to counter fast-food, junk-food lifestyles, first ignited consumer demand for fresh, local produce.”

We don’t care who gets the credit, just as long as we can fuel the grill with great vegetables from our favorites — and seriously expanding — farmstands.

Get down to the farmers market and do some wonderful things with vegetables!

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Categories: Dinner Tonight | Tags: Fruit, Grilled Vegetables, Grilling, Vegetables, Vegetarian
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