Written by Alicia Jordan, Boots on the Farm Consulting, LLC
July is the perfect time to bring little ones to the farmer’s market! The colorful booths are overflowing with fresh summer fruits and vegetables, and there’s no better place for early learners to connect with where their food comes from.
When children visit the farmers market, they engage all their senses — they can see bright red tomatoes, feel the fuzzy skin of peaches, smell fresh basil, and even hear farmers talking about their harvests. These experiences make learning come alive outside the classroom.
At Boots on the Farm, we encourage hands-on exploration. Before the visit, we talk about what farmers do, the different vegetables and fruits they might see, and even practice questions to ask farmers. During the market trip, children can help choose produce, count items, and learn new vocabulary words. Afterward, we discuss what they saw and tasted, and sometimes we even create simple snacks using the fresh produce they picked.
A few fun activity ideas during your market visit:
- Color hunt: Find fruits and vegetables in every color of the rainbow. This scavenger hunt not only helps with introducing colors, but also the variety of foods that can be found at the farmers market.
- Farmer interviews: Let children ask farmers simple questions like “What is your favorite thing to grow?” Having conversations with the farmers can help strengthen the connections you have in your community and help us understand how our food makes it to our plates.
- Taste test challenge: Try a new fruit or vegetable together and describe its flavor. Taste tests can help in introducing children to new foods, which can encourage them to eat more fruits and vegetables.
The farmers market becomes a vibrant outdoor classroom, helping children build a healthy relationship with food and a love for local agriculture.
