Fortuna Farmers Market

It is more than ever important that people realize that industrial food is not the best thing to put into your mouth - it is time to start thinking about where food comes from, what exactly goes into it.

An outgrowth of the surge in interest in organic goods is a push toward the support of locally produced foods. A benefit of buying from local farmers is less fuel burned getting the goods to shoppers. It's considered more sustainable economically, socially and environmentally.

And places such as farmers markets give consumers a chance to talk with farmers -- helping them learn about food production. They fervently believe in the health and ecological benefits of what they are doing -- and a growing number of their customers do, too. You want to know the people who grow your food. You know your auto mechanic; you ought to know your farmer.

Fortuna Farmer's Market brings the bounties of local farms and nurseries to the tables of the Eel River Valley. All the produce and plants at the Fortuna market are locally grown and nearly all are organically produced.

Early markets bring plenty of salad greens, landscaping plants and shrubs, vegetable and flower starts, herbs, fresh flowers and strawberries.

As the summer blossoms the range of fruits and vegetables grows to include squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, corn, peppers, potatoes and other favorites from farms all over the county.

Besides produce and plants the market has a separate area for prepared foods like fresh tamales, breads and jams and for local hand crafts.

Market days are every Tuesday, 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. at 10th and Main Streets in downtown Fortuna. The market runs from May 24 through late October. The market is still looking for craftspeople interested in selling their handmade items at the market. Call Holly Kreb 722-4330 for information.