By Boulder County Farmers Markets

There are many reasons to choose to shop and buy locally.

You might support local businesses to strengthen the regional economy. Perhaps you prefer the atmosphere of a mom-and-pop shop compared to a corporate, big-box store.

When it comes to the farmers market, we find that one of the most timely and urgent reasons to shop small is to protect the health of our environment.

This Earth Week, we invite you to dig into the positive impacts of local agriculture. From restoring the soil to revive the microbiome and better support plant life, to providing habitats for insects and critters, there’s a lot more going on at farms across Boulder County than you realize.

Considering that most produce travels 1,500 miles from the farm to a grocery store shelf, every purchase can significantly reduce your overall carbon footprint.

Just as important as where you shop is how you shop. Taking a few extra minutes to pack reusable grocery bags, ride your bike, or chat up a farmer can make a difference when it comes to sustainability. Try these tips for your next market trip, and email us at bcfm.org">hello@bcfm.org if you have any you’d like to share with us:

Pack a market kit

Reusables are the best way to shop sustainably. Before you head to market, grab a to-go cup, straw, utensils, a cloth napkin, and a Tupperware container to ensure that you can enjoy everything the market has to offer without creating unnecessary waste. Toss it all in a thrifted basket for extra brownie points.

Bring your own bags (duh)

Bringing your own bags is a must at the farmers market. It’s important to remember that includes produce bags, too. If you don’t already have reusable produce bags, see what else you may have in the house that you can reuse to avoid taking home more plastic.

Find a sustainable mode of transportation

Look up the bus schedule or find the nearest bike path and make a commitment to travel to the market without a car. This year, the Boulder Farmers Market has a free bike valet on site, making it even easier to bring your bike (and its many attachments) down to the market without worry.

Educate yourself on trash, recycling and composting rules

Learning what should go where can be a hyper-local process. Be sure to know the rules of what should be trashed, recycled and composted to keep our waste streams clean and highly sustainable. In Boulder County, we can only compost food scraps and plant trimmings — even more of a reason to bring that metal straw everywhere you go!

Plant a (free) tree

This weekend at the Boulder market, several local organizations are teaming up to distribute native plants and trees. COOL Boulder, PLAY Boulder Foundation, City of Boulder Parks and Recreation and CSU Master Gardeners will distribute 600 tree seedlings and native plants. (Available only as supplies last.)

Learn more about sustainable agriculture

Nothing lights up a local farmer’s eyes quite like talking about what they are doing to help our planet heal. Love for the environment and the outdoors is the reason many people choose farming as a career path — in fact, many even studied environmental sciences in school. Chat with the local farmers to learn more about what they are doing to restore soil, conserve water, promote animal welfare and reduce waste. You’re almost certainly in for a pleasant surprise!

When you invest in local farmers, you invest in uplifting small businesses that go above and beyond to support our environment, instead of supporting companies that only care about offering the lowest price point.

The community’s support allows local farmers to plan their harvest to accommodate drought-resistant crops and use natural rain cycles to conserve water. They can afford to lose a crop to pests that creep around when a farm commits to not using pesticides. They can invest in earth-friendly packaging. The list goes on, and it’s unique to each and every vendor at the farmers markets.

Be sure to come visit us this weekend to celebrate Earth Week and our incredible local food community. We can’t wait to see you there!

• Boulder Farmers Market, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, 13th and Canyon streets, Boulder; bcfm.org.

• Longmont Farmers Market, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Boulder County Fairgrounds, 9595 Nelson Road, Longmont; bcfm.org.