by Cat Stewart

produce at East Nashville Farmers Market

In the heart of its second year, the East Nashville Farmer’s Market is a big success, drawing many of the vendors that spend their Saturday mornings at the Franklin Farmer’s Market. Their recent move two blocks behind the Turnip Truck, where the market was located last summer, has created more space for vendors and increased available parking.

            What awaits you at the Market?  Fresh produce, grass fed meats, fresh dairy milk, free range eggs, and hand made cheese to name just a few items. Much of the produce is grown organically and the animal products are produced without exposure to antibiotics or hormones. Another great plus is that farm direct foods are not subject to sales tax.

            This week’s feature vendor is Peaceful Pastures. They provide grass fed beef, lamb, goat, pork and pasteurized poultry products. Their grass fed meats are higher in Vitamin E, the Omega-3 fatty acids, CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) and other nutrients than that of commercially raised meat products. There is also a lower risk of E. coli. The animals are raised in a humane environment and not confined in stalls or feedlots. Grass fed meat is also lower in fat and therefore lower in calories than the meat of animals that are pumped full of hormones and antibiotics and fattened on corn or other supplemental feed. They also bring farm fresh eggs, but you’ll want to come early to get those as they sell out quickly.  Check out their website at www.peacefulpastures.com to see the full range of products available for pre-order.

Peaceful Pastures at East Nashville Farmers Market

            While many people buy locally because they enjoy the improved flavor and nutrient content of just harvested produce, there are other benefits as well. Buying local produce reduces your carbon footprint significantly because the transportation costs of just a pound of food are significant. The average mileage racked up by many of the items on your supermarket shelf is 1500 miles! The fossil fuels required to transport food this far make a big carbon impact. In addition to being more environmentally friendly from the transportation standpoint, local farms generally use sustainable methods to produce the food. No harmful pesticides, no genetic modification, and no chemical fertilizers as well as little to no packaging all go into the plus column of the green check list.

            The best reason to shop at the East Nashville Farmer’s market is FUN! There are frequently musicians or singers that pick a few Bluegrass tunes, kids romping and playing, dogs sniffing their way toward a treat sample at the Peaceful Pastures table. Beautiful colors, enticing smells, tasty samples and interesting conversations make the market the place to be every Wednesday afternoon from 3:30 until 7.