Is everything at the farmers' market local?

In past weeks, we've been uncovering the mysteries of the local farmers' market. We've asked: "Is the Farmers' Market Safe?" and we've debated affordability in "Is the Farmers' Market More Expensive."

Here's another question I receive often at the Market Info Booth: Is everything at the farmers' market local? You know, it's always the most straight forward questions that can be the most difficult to answer. And in this, unfortunately, the answer will vary from market to market. 

When you go to a farmers' market, it's easy to assume that everything is local. I mean, that's the point, right? Unfortunately, this isn't always the case. We have a local produce market in town that advertises "Farm Fresh Produce." And it does have farm fresh (what most people would assume means "local") produce. However, that "farm fresh" produce is few and far between. In fact, most of the food is shipped in from all over the country, and world, just like the grocery store (which also has a few local items from time to time). 

Thankfully, our farmers' market (completely separate from the local produce market) is all local - with a few exceptions like the coffee isn't grown here, but it's roasted here; or the olive oil that is raised and bottled in Italy, but whose owner lives in our town (the olive orchard is her retirement), brings the oil back home, and is permitted to sell it at our market. But baring those few exceptions, and thanks to a dedicated market board (who screens out any non-locals), any of the fresh fruits and veggies that are sold at our market come from right here in the Brazos Valley. As a result, I can feel good knowing that when I shop at our farmers' market, I'm supporting our local economy. 

I wish I could say that all farmers' markets can boast the same roots, but unfortunately, you'll need to ask anytime you discover a new market. Other ways to tell? Get to know your local food system (check out your state's or county's agricultural charts, talk to Master Gardeners, or local farmers). What's in season each month? If you see cucumbers in December, something's fishy. You better ask.

What about you? Does your farmers' market require that the food be produced locally? If not, how do determine what's local or not? Do you rely on favorite vendors and established relationships? Or do you ask around?

Is the Farmers' Market more expensive?

As I promote our local farmers' market at festivals and fairs all over town, I get a variety of questions from the community. For instance, two weeks ago I posted about the safety of buying at the farmers' market after having spoken to a concerned citizen. But the question I get more often than any other is: Is the farmers' market more expensive? 

Well, that's a tough question. And my typical answer starts with "Yes and No." We touched on this briefly last month with actual costs, but not so much from a philosophical point of view. For that, we're going to need to delve a little deeper into the market to answer this completely.

Prices

First, let's strictly talk prices. Comparing dollar for dollar, some things I've found are actually cheaper at the market, some are more expensive, and some are about the same. And of course it all depends on what's on sale at your local grocery at any given time. 

Cheaper - at our market, the eggs are WAY cheaper than what you'd find at the grocery. We're running $2.50 for a dozen free-range eggs. Last time I looked in the grocery, it was anywhere from $3.50 a dozen or some are that much per half dozen.

About the same - Veggies, I find, are about the same price (again strictly dollar for dollar) as you'll find in the grocery stores. I'm guessing vendors shop at the grocery occasionally or check out local ads to gage prices. 

More expensive - Fruits are generally more expensive at our market because they are such a rarity, but then it's only certain fruits. Melons are about the same price, but peaches, plums, and berries are definitely pricier dollar for dollar.

But does "dollar for dollar" really account for the true cost of the items we buy, whether from the grocery or from the local farmers' market?

True Cost

I recently read a blog post challenging readers to determine if local/organic foods are too expensive, or are conventionally-grown foods too cheap. I'm a firm believer of the latter. Since the 70's and for good reason, our food system has pushed an agenda of making lots of food available at cheap prices. I mean that's great, right? Well, unfortunately, we've only swung the pendulum to the opposite extreme. Because what we're getting is not just inexpensive food but the quality is seriously lacking as a result. In other words, that cheap food is nutritionally cheap. 

And not only do we have to buy (and eat) more of a conventionally-grown product to get the same nutrition (because conventional growing depletes the soil of nutrients), but we "pay" also (though indirectly) for the damage these monocultures and pesticide-laden crops do to our environment. And this doesn't even take into account the "price we pay" as a community when we give our dollars to big-box grocery stores instead of local farmers, an unfortunately dying breed. We may not pay the price at the check-out counter, but we do eventually pay the price.

What is the true cost of our food? I'm not sure anyone can give you a concrete answer, but you can bet that food grown sustainably and naturally, food grown locally by area farmers is closer to a real price.

So back to our original question: is the farmers' market more expensive? From time to time, you may pay a little more money out of pocket, but if you take into account the rewards to our health (instead of health care costs), to the Earth (instead the cost of depleted resources), and to our local economy (losing local businesses to the mega-cheap big-box stores), then eating locally from your area farmers' market may just be the smartest financial decision you can make. 

What about you? Do you find your local farmers' market more expensive dollar for dollar than the grocery store? Are you willing to pay a little extra for quality, a cleaner environment, and support of the local economy? 

Is the farmers' market safe?

Recently, as I hosted a farmers' market booth at a local festival, I had a passer-by ask me an interesting question: Do vendors at the market have to be inspected by the health department?

At first, I assumed the young lady was interested in becoming a vendor, wondering what certifications she needed to obtain to have her application accepted. But as we talked, I realized what she was really asking was "Is the food at the farmers' market safe?" It's a question certainly worth asking, although this was my first time to answer. Frankly, after years of watching documentaries and reading books about what "really" happens in our commercial food infrastructure, the question came as a shock. It's a no-brainer, right? Food at the farmers' market is safer. During last summer's tomato scare, news agencies across the nation encouraged people to visit their farmers' markets where contamination-free produce could be bought with confidence. 

So what makes my farmers' market products safe? As far as I know, only one of our vendors has a certified and inspected commercial kitchen, and none of them are large commercial farms (mostly average people with larger than average gardens). Why should they be preferred over the commercial varieties where inspection and government regulation is required? I suppose I can only speak for myself, but here's why I feel safer shopping at my local farmers' market:

• Direct sales - As I mentioned earlier, my farmers market is a wonderful group of everyday average people with larger than average gardens. Most of them are, in fact, in the business of selling their produce and minimally processed goods (like jams and jellies, pickles, baked breads, etc), so it's not that the market is a hobby for them. What I'm trying to say is that these small farmer/large gardeners don't have salesmen selling their goods. When I visit the market, I have the opportunity to speak directly with the individual who raised the food I'd like to buy. I can ask how it was grown, whether or not pesticides or fertilizers were used, and when it was picked. When you buy at the grocery store, it's a guessing game (ever asked a supermarket produce manager how something was grown? Yeah - good luck!). I love talking to the farmer, the jam maker, the bread baker, and knowing exactly what I'm getting!
• Reputation -  Unlike corporations, which have billions of dollars to cover their mistakes (between food recalls and lawsuits), my farmers' market vendors have only their reputation of producing a consistent quality product to support their families. If they sell a shoddy product or something that makes me sick, I won't be buying from they again will I? - And because I participated in direct sales, I know EXACTLY from whom the product came.
• Sharing the Harvest - To me, this is the most telling of reason of why the farmers' market is safe. I've seen documentaries where commercial farmers refuse to eat the product they've raised because of the amount of chemicals that have been dumped on it - the harvest all goes into the food infrastructure while the farmer tends a small (usually organic) patch that is used just for the family. Not so at my farmers' market. One of my favorite vendors tells me all the time, we grow what we eat and bring the rest to market. To me, that means I'm part of the farmers' extended family. From the food grown in the field to the jam made in the house kitchen, I enjoy the same foods that market vendors' families enjoy. Now on the producing end (I'm privately selling homemade organic whole-wheat bread out of my house), I know this is true. Sure, it's not made in a commercial kitchen, but whomever enjoys a loaf of my bread received the same high quality and attention to detail that I provide my own family. 
• Relationships - Finally, my favorite reason of all - Relationships! As I attend my farmers' market week after week, I build relationship with each of the producers. That translates into a trust you just can't equal with a corporation. I'm never felt chummy with Con-Agra, what can I say? I trust my farmers' market vendors because I know them. They are my friends, my family, my neighbors, my community. 

Surely, I've missed some wonderful reasons why buying from the local farmers' market is safer than the big-box grocery store. Why do you shop at your farmers' market?