My Farmers Market Rant

Do's and Don't of Farmers Markets

    Farmers markets, a.k.a. green markets, are a wonderful resource for the farmer (me) and the consumer (you) to get together. I love the farmers market as a vendor and as a consumer. Some markets are quite large and lively with an almost carnival-like atmosphere. Others are quiet and small. Some have entertainment, maybe a strolling musician or a quartet, cooking demonstrations, or civic projects.  Some will allow all types of things to be sold, almost like a flea market, and services and products vary wildly. Prices also vary from one market to the next and from vendor to vendor. I'm crazy about all of these farmers markets, the big ones and the small ones.

  Let me share a definition of what a farmers market is. This definition is copied from About.com:

   Definition: A farmers market (a.k.a. greenmarket) is a place where farmers sell their products directly to consumers. Ultra-fresh produce, pastured meat and eggs, artisan cheeses, hand-harvested honey, and other fresh, small-batch foodstuffs are the hallmark (and benchmark) of the best farmers markets. They serve not just as a place for farmers to get the best price and consumers to get the best products, but as venues for producers and consumers of food to come together, forge relationships, and exchange information.

Note: Some "farmers markets" have vendors that sell produce they bought from wholesalers and then re-sell to consumers. Are there bananas at your farmers market in Minnesota? Be suspicious. That produce is the same that is available in supermarkets, which is fine, but then why go to the trouble of visiting a farmers market?

  The first sentence in the definition is what I believe and why I always like to shop at the farmers market. I believe this is the understanding of most patrons of the markets as well. ”A farmers market (a.k.a. greenmarket) is a place where farmers sell their products directly to consumers” -- directly is the key word here for me. It doesn’t say from a farmer to a guy who then turns around and brings the stuff to sell at the market. That’s a grocery store. There’s a middleman involved in the grocery store scenario.

So this brings me to my rant today. Well friends, we’ve got trouble right here in River City and it isn’t billiards. Don’t worry; I will be your guide, your shaman. I will get you through it. You see, just like all things that are green and lying on the ground of the rodeo arena is not money, nor are all things at the farmers market being sold fresh, local, organic or grown by the person or persons selling said produce, and there’s the rub for me. It’s my feeling that most people believe by going to the farmers market this is just what they’re getting, and in most cases, it is, but you’re going to have to ask some questions of the vendor if you desire these things of them. If you don’t care that’s its not really local, organic, or produced by the person representing it, then you don’t need to worry about my rant today. Perhaps the market is a social gathering for you, instead, and you may like other aspects of the experience. Then that’s great, too. But please don’t assume that just because you’re at a farmers market that the guy in front of you is the guy that grew the produce on his farm with his blood, sweat, and tears. If this is what you thought, you may be getting duped.

Many people at the farmers market are brokers. In other words, they buy from another source, usually a wholesaler. That wholesaler could be thousands of miles away. So they buy it from some guy and turn around and sell it to you, just like the grocery store. Even if it’s from a semi-local source, it could be from a local commercial greenhouse. That still leaves you and the vendor not knowing whom, how, and where your food was grown, period. That’s what led us to the problem we are having with these food safety issues in the first place these days. Remember peanut butter, tomatoes, peppers, and spinach? And that’s just the ones I remember.

Don’t get me wrong, I am more than willing to buy from the mega mart when I have no choice and I am thankful for the lower prices they can afford. But I am not willing to go to the farmers market for the same thing they have at the grocery. Why waste your time and pay more for it?

So what do we do about this? Here are a few suggestions:

• Do--ask the vendor if he or she grew the products. Don’t be embarrassed to walk away if he says no. He or she may get defensive about the question, which is a pretty good indicator they did not grow it themselves. Even if they say “no,” but say a friend or guy they know grew it, I think chances are high that they might be a broker. Bottom line--if the person selling it grew it, then he will be proud to let you know he grew it. If they didn’t grow it, and this matters to you, move to the next vendor. Don’t let them bully you. On the other hand, if the produce itself is not in season, that’s another great indicator that they didn’t grow it. However, if the price on the out of season item is too good to pass up, and you were going to buy it out of the store anyhow, by all means do it. But ask so you can make an informed decision.
  
• Do--ask about the variety of bean, tomato, etc. That’s a good indicator of their knowledge of their product, plus if you like it you will know what to ask for when you shop next time. In all fairness though, sometimes I cannot tell you exactly what variety I have at the time because I grow several varieties, say of beans, and it gets confusing as to what’s what.
  
• Do--ask if their produce is organic if you are concerned about organics. If you are not concerned, you may still want to ask what their farming practices are. They could be trying to be organic by growing naturally, but not being certified by the U.S.D.A. as “certified organic.” It’s very expensive to become certified, and a big hassle to boot. If someone says they are organic, ask them if they are certified organic. If you are concerned, they should have certification if they sell more than five thousand dollars worth of product a year. They might not use herbicides but can’t control bugs without a little help from pesticides, maybe you’re all right with that. Maybe you’re not a stickler, you just want it as clean as possible. We are not certified organic ourselves, but we do have organic, all-natural farming practices here at the swamp farm. If, however, I was going to lose a whole tomato crop because of horn worm, I would have to think about using Sevins dust on them. It’s been around for years and until recently was labeled for fleas on dogs. I would certainly tell you that if you asked me if I was strictly organic so you could make an informed decision.
  
• Do--ask the vendor if they are local and how local, and don’t be afraid to ask exactly where their farm is located. It is a legitimate question and one that people ask me all the time as a vendor. Be a locavore, someone who tries to eat food produced locally. Local, I have found out means lots of different things to a lot of people. You may be a hundred mile locavore, maybe a thousand miles is okay, or it might be ten miles for you. Ask so you can make an informed decision.
  

My point to all this ranting is this--ask questions so you can make an informed choice as to what suits you. Don’t assume anything just because it’s being sold at the farmers market. And don’t pick up anything green on the floor of the rodeo arena... unless you need organic fertilizer for your garden.

I’m through talk’n, --Matt