Local Love: Why Buying in August Supports Farmers Year-Round

​August is a time of the food production calendar when the table is full, an abundance of things all in season at the same time. Tomatoes are still coming through; sweet corn is starting to arrive at the market and appear at roadside stalls.

Peaches have arrived along with other berries, and your reliable greens are still flourishing. There is simply so much to enjoy. This is the height of the growing season, everything is at is most colourful, flavourful, and plentiful. Because of this, August is often the most profitable time for your local smallholder farmers, and it is a critical time for supporting them. This is a window of time that helps small farmers thrive throughout the rest of the year. Shopping small this month makes an impact. Success in August for a small farmer covers the following essentials:

• Winter heating for greenhouses
• Seed ordering
• Equipment maintenance
• Wages for seasonal help
• Basic living costs when markets close in Autumn

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We must keep in mind that these farmers are not operating like large industrial operations that are able to rake in the dough year-round to continue their less-than-ideal farming practices. Small and medium size operate on tight margins as it is—with the winter months posing the largest fiscal challenges. Finding room in your budget to stock up on produce with the intention to preserve what you can will not only save your money in the long run, prolonging the time it will take until you’re eventually forced to cave and fall back to grocery chains to grab your produce, but the cash boost gives farmers a bit of breathing room to plan and invest in their sustainable operations.
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Preserve the season! Freezing berries, drying out herbs, making sauces, canning peaches, this is the time to preserve! They are more you can extend the harvest in your kitchen will reduce your reliance on imported goods later in the year with a higher carbon footprint. That tomato sauce you make now and freeze for later supports a farmer today and supports your pantry in February, it’s a win win.
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Supporting local farmers in August strengthens our entire community as much as it does farmers. According to Sustain Ontario, every dollar spent at a farmers’ market can generate up to three time more economic activity than a dollar spent at a large grocery chain. That means your market haul doesn’t just sustain one farm, but the seed suppliers, local mechanics, seasonal workers, and nearby small businesses connected to that farm’s success. Investing in peak season abundance now helps to build a circular economy that keeps food dollars in our region, protects farmland and development pressure, and fosters a more self-reliant food system for everyone.