Illustration by Jesse Kuhn
When you eat an apple grown in Chile, rather than southern Illinois, you might as well have it delivered by rocket, for all the carbon miles you rack up. Buying your produce locally is sustainable, supports local farmers—and, well, gives you fruit and veggies that just taste so much better.
Tower Grove Farmers’ Market (Pool Pavilion in Tower Grove Park, 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Sat, May–October, tgmarket.org) was one of the first markets to embrace local food. When it opened in 2006, there were 15 vendors; three years later, that figure’s more than doubled.
North City Farmers’ Market (St. Louis and N. 14th, 9 a.m.–noon Sat, June–October, northcityfarmersmarket.org) does the 100-mile diet one better, selling produce from New Roots Urban Farm, located just across Florissant Road.
Maplewood Farmer’s Market at Schlafly Bottleworks (7260 Southwest, 314-241-2337, 4–7 p.m. Wed, May–December, schlafly.com) is another proponent of local produce, as well as the Slow Food movement. During the cold months, it runs a monthly winter market inside Schlafly Bottleworks, where visitors can buy items like artisanal cheeses and locally collected honey.
