Eating healthy, it’s not only a challenge for adults anymore. Teenagers want to jump in to the scene as well.
With all the fast food places popping up over town, it is increasingly difficult for students to stay healthy. Not to mention with their hormones going haywire it causes them to eat more fattening foods than adults usually do.
Luckily for teenagers, there are multiple farmers markets all around the Bryant area. Most are in an hour’s drive or less, depending on where you go. Most are in Little Rock but there are some popular markets in North Little Rock, and one in Bryant.
Even though it’s right under our noses, some people don’t know about the Farmer’s Market in Bryant. You can find it at Midtown, in the neighborhood right where Highway 5 and Reynolds Road intersect. They’re open every Saturday only in the Summer from 8AM-3PM. Local Farmers sell their fresh produce and fruits there, so when it’s summer time again, be sure to pop on by.
There is also the River Market Farmers Market that’s been around ever since 1974 in Downtown Little Rock. From May until October they’re open from 7AM-3PM every Tuesday and Saturday. Their address is 400 President Clinton Ave, Little Rock, AR 72201. On those days be sure to find their produce and other foods at the two outdoor open-air pavilions by the Riverfront Park.
“I usually go to the River Market, lately my mother and I have been trying to eat more healthy, so we decided to start buying from farmers markets,” sophomore Emma Schock said.
Another Farmers Market in Little Rock is the Arkansas Sustainability Network Local Food Club, which you have to be a member of the Arkansas Sustainability Network (ASN) to buy food and other products from. Unlike the other farmers markets, this one only lets you purchase items from online. Students can order online year round from Sunday-Tuesday at 7PM-9PM. They’ll need to pick up your purchases on Saturday morning from 10AM-12PM. Their address is 509 S. Scott St. (Christ Episcopal Church), Little Rock, AR 72201. Their online website is http://www.littlerock.locallygrown.net/ be sure to check them out.
The Certified Arkansas Farmers Market (CAFM) is a farmers market that only sells products from Arkansas farms. It can be found in North Little Rock at 520 Main Street North Little Rock, AR 72114. CAFM has three outdoor markets and one online market all in central Arkansas. From April until October be sure to find CAFM at one of these three places: Argenta, 7 a.m. until 12 p.m. 520 Main Street N. Little Rock; Hot Springs Village, 7 a.m. until 12 p.m. (Paul Bewie Boys and Girls Club Parking Lot; Searcy, 7 a.m. until 12 p.m., South end of Spring Park Main St. These markets have been created by farmers, for the public.
“I love how everything is just so fresh. Because the produce that you could buy at Wal-Mart doesn’t have the freshness that they do at the farmers’ markets.” Sophomore Baylie McLaren said.
There is also the North Little Rock Farmers Market in obviously, North Little Rock. They’re open from May to November on Saturdays, with on-site parking. They’re on the river rail trolley beside the Arkansas Travelers baseball park and close to Verizon arena. Their address is 710 N Main North Little Rock, AR 72114. They sell fresh fruit and vegetables and even hand crafted art.
In our time it is harder for students and even teachers to eat healthy, but it isn’t so much of a challenge anymore with the farmers’ markets.
