Skip to main content

This is Work: Farmer's Market

My normal routine involves completing any food shopping at the grocery store, but in the summer, my town has a weekly farmer’s market. This is an opportunity for the farmers who grow the food to take advantage of being able to sell their locally grown food to hungry people. My first instinct was to make a comment on this being the go-to place for vegetable lovers, but the farmer’s market has grown from just a roadside type produce stand to so much more.


Besides the colorful array of good-for-you vegetables, there are vendors selling lots of non-produce items. There are locally made baked goods and treats for humans and even pet foods. Some local craft vendors have also decided to sell their wares and now there are handmade soaps, pottery, and clothing.

Nothing screams summer to me like a farmer’s market. Although there are so many other vendors now besides produce, I would not have made it to the market without the hard work and dedication of the actual farmer. To have actual produce to sell in the summer, the farmer has to prep soil, sprout seeds, understand how plants grow, and work diligently to ensure the crops are growing. The farmer is up before dawn working way more than the traditional 40-hour work week. You are not a farmer unless you love the work and the great outdoors.

 There is an industry of equipment and supplies to support my local farmer with what he needs to make his business a success. Farming may not be on the list of the top 10 glitzy professions, but it is a profession we need to ensure continues in our country. When I look at the produce at the grocery store, so much of it comes from places all over the world. Recent supply chain issues have made me more aware and more appreciative of the work my local farmers are doing.

When I buy local produce, I am supporting the local economy, the farm, and all the people working in my area. I am supporting a labor of love and food. #thisiswork

~Karen Cirincione

Email: kcirincione@gmail.com        

Linked In: www.linkedin.com/in/karenjcirincione

Twitter: @kcirincione  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How do you Birthday?

Another year in my life has passed. It’s time for another birthday. Each year as the day approaches, I take the time to reflect on my past year, my accomplishments, and my goals for the year. My birthday is like my personal New Years’ celebration with another opportunity to have the best year ever.   I am not afraid of a birthday. Age is just a number, but each year is what you make of it. Each year I have seen the sun rise, the rain fall, and the snow melt, I have been given a gift from the universe. Many people do not get to see another birthday. I owe myself the opportunity to set goals and feel proud as I work towards achieving them. Sometimes these goals have been born from unhappy feelings and bad situations, but growth brings wisdom.   In my working life, and especially as a workforce professional, I know some of my growth must be professionally. Having experience working with job seekers looking for jobs, I understand how crucial professional growth is...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Authentic You

Authenticity is not something we think or talk about every day. It is something we all need for ourselves and to truly connect and have meaningful interactions with others. Anyone on the #improve2019 journey is looking to either improve themselves or to be the guiding light for another person on the journey. Without authenticity, the fruits of labor are bitter. They are not satisfying, but meaningless. The fruits grow are wants in the world, but are not what we truly need.   Authenticity starts with the self. It means we are first to be honest with ourselves, good or bad. It means taking a hard look in the mirror and owning our faults. Are we trying too hard or not enough? Are we speaking and not acting? Do our actions match our intentions?   These are the questions we need to ask ourselves and to really ponder. After we have truly done the recognition and have taken the steps we need to improve, we can really look to helping others doing the same.   Auth...
Post a Comment
Read more

Great Questions=Great Answers! The Pieces to the Puzzle are revealed!

Newbies in workforce development sometimes ask me how to work with a customer or how do you know why someone cannot get a job.   The answer is really simple. Ask the right questions, and then listen for the answer.    It’s not a secret. You can’t just look at person or their job seeking documents and just know. You need the person to open his mouth and speak.   You need the narrative.   Why narrative? First, you will get the information to help you help the customer.   That is if you ask the right question.   Secondly, it helps you establish rapport and trust with your customer. Someone is not going to open up if he does not trust you. This is very important.   Remember digging a hole to China as a child.   Quickly you found out that you could not find China with one shovel full of dirt.   The digger must unearth many layers to get to China! A child will quickly find out that he can’t shovel his way to China, but may find neat ...
1 comment
Read more