Did you know that every time you make a purchase, youâre shaping the market? Your food choices influence whatâs available, what thrives, and what disappears. Recently, I had a heartfelt conversation with a friend who is an urban farmer. We shared our excitement about offering fresh, diverse produce and products to our customers, pouring our passion into every item we grow and create. But thereâs a harsh realityâwhen these carefully cultivated foods donât sell, itâs disheartening. It forces us to question whether to continue growing and offering them at all. For small-scale urban farmers, every season is a delicate balance of effort, environment, and consumer demand. Extreme weatherâunseasonal cold snaps, relentless heat wavesâcan make it nearly impossible to sustain certain crops. Global warming isnât just a theory; itâs something farmers battle daily, affecting what they can grow next season. But beyond the climate, itâs consumer behavior that often determines which foods make it to market. If customers donât buy certain items, farmers simply canât afford to grow them again. Your choices matter more than you realize. Every purchase is a vote for what stays on our tables. Itâs important to recognize that your behavior directly impacts the availability of fresh produce from small-scale urban farmers. Every time you choose to buy fresh vegetables, you send a powerful signalâone that tells these farmers their hard work is valued, their crops are needed, and their efforts are worth continuing. But when you pass them by, the message is just as clear in the other direction. Selling people on the idea of eating more vegetables is already a challenge without added barriers. Many hesitate to buy certain produce because they donât know how to prepare it, theyâre unsure of the taste, or theyâve had a negative experience in the past. But your choicesâwhat you buy and what you donâtâtell local farmers what to grow and what to stop growing. Be mindful of the message you're sending. If you truly want fresh, pesticide-free fruits and veggies, then support the farmers and businesses that bring them to you. Theyâre showing up at market for you. Theyâre looking to youânot just for encouragement, but for your action. They need you to buy the very produce you say you want. Now, I know the title of this newsletter might sound a little dramaticâafter all, fresh fruits and vegetables will always be available, right? Well⊠theyâll only be available as long as thereâs demand. And that demand starts with YOU. By making thoughtful purchasing decisions, youâre doing more than just ensuring your favorite produce remains available. Youâre investing in local farmers, supporting artisans, and fostering a food system that is diverse, sustainable, and community-driven. And hopefully, thatâs something we all want. What do you think? Have you noticed shifts in whatâs available at the market over time? Iâd love to hear your thoughtsâhit reply and let me know! In the meantime, check out the rest of our newsletter for this weekâs happenings. Weâll be at two locations: Patchwork City Farms and Oyun Botanical Gardens. Plus, we have some exciting events coming up, and we hope youâll join us. Oh, and donât forget to get those meal prep orders in! Hope you enjoy!â
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Hi! I am Chef Beee and welcome to Nyansapo Wellness Institute! We specialize in helping you get on track with your health and wellness, specifically through the use of plant-based foods and other lifestyle medicine tools. Our offerings help you to prioritize self-care, align with your purpose, select nourishing foods for vitality and we equip you with the necessary tools to develop and succeed in your well-being. We also offer a weekly meal prep service called Essential Meals 2Go. Get nourished from the inside out here!
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