“It’s summertime, and the living is easy.”

Well, the tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables are easy too – easy to find at local farmers markets.

Davie County residents have several choices of farmers markets – three locations and three days.

The Town of Mocksville Farmers Market is every Wednesday from 3-6 p.m. on Clement Street across from Junker’s Mill.

The Peachtree Farmers Market is every Friday from 3:30-7 p.m. at the new Davie Medical Center on NC 801 in Bermuda Run.

Saturdays from 8 a.m.-noon, check out the Farmington Farmers Market at Farmington Community Center, 1723 Farmington Road, Mocksville.

“Buying local foods supports our farmers, allows you to have the freshest food possible and gives you the opportunity to get to know the farmers who are growing the food your family eats,” said Pam Jones, Extension agent in Davie County.

According to the NC Office of Environmental Education, the average meal in the United States travels more than 1,500 miles before reaching a plate.

From the moment of harvest, produce begins to lose nutrients, sugars that give fruits and vegetables that fresh taste begin converting to starches, and the longer it travels the more likely it is that disease pathogens will deteriorate the produce further.

Now that’s food for thought.

Also consider the amount of fuel used to transport grapes from Chile or strawberries from Mexico or Canada. Increased distances result in higher prices at the supermarket, too.

“Let’s all do our part to reduce the amount of fuel used to transport our food and thus greatly reduce our carbon footprint,” Jones said. “Buy local.”