 It always just feels like what I'm buying at the farmer's market is fresher and from a local source, from a farmer who's probably within 100 miles of here. Virginia Tech Agriculture Extension agent Sarah Sharp says farmer's markets are great for consumers and farmers. Because you are getting healthy food, it's great for those farmers. That income that that farmer's receiving can then go back into that community. Sharp recommends shoppers bring a cooler or cooler bag to keep meat, poultry, and eggs cold and keep things separate.