Bone and Joint Health Bulletin #4: Farmers Markets

Pittsburgh’s healthy food options are abundant, but you won’t believe how many farmers markets there are within city limits!

The city of Pittsburgh is known for a lot of things, including sports championships, bridges, putting french fries on sandwiches, and a handful of words that are not used anywhere else. However, Pittsburgh’s vast offering of farmers markets throughout the city is not on the list. In our opinion, it should be!

Farmers markets are extremely valuable to the vendors, customers, and the region in which they are located. A recent article from the Farmers Market Coalition outlined the many benefits that farmers markets bring to the table. For example, the article states that a 12-week study in Austin, Texas found that the placement of farmers markets outside of popular community hangouts significantly increased the consumption of fruit and vegetables among people that lived within walking distance. Furthermore, the proximity to farmers markets has been tied to lower body mass index (BMI), whereas the density of fast food restaurants has been tied to higher BMI among local residents. To put it simply, the availability of the fruits and vegetables that farmers markets have to offer significantly increases the amount of fruits and vegetables that locals will consume.

Taking it a step further, farmers markets significantly benefit low-income shoppers, improving their diets and creating healthy social connections. For example, a study from the University of South Carolina shows that low-income diabetic shoppers increased their fruit and vegetable intake by 1.6 servings per day after they were given access to a farmers market incentive program. Fortunately, there are 13 farmers markets within Pittsburgh city limits that accept Pennsylvania’s SNAP food benefits program. In addition, the Ford Foundation took a survey in which 28% of respondents stated that the greatest benefit of local New York farmers markets is that they “bring people together.”

Now that you know all of the benefits that farmers markets bring to the table, we’d like to help you find one! Thankfully, “Good Food Pittsburgh” has put together a thorough guide to Pittsburgh Farmers Markets in 2021. The article lists farmers markets by day so that you can figure out what works best for your schedule. In addition, at the top of the article, you will find the list of farmers markets that accept SNAP credit. 

View the article by clicking here.

Most of the farmers markets on this list will continue to take place through late fall 2021, so take some time to try out as many as you can! Take home those healthy fruits and vegetables that your bodies crave. Your bones and joints will thank you!