The case for Farmers' Markets

Let me start with the admission that this post really ought to have been written a couple of months ago but sometimes better late than never. 

I am a big proponent of Farmers' Markets and am a regular at our Sunday market.  There is something about growing your own produce that inspires a renewed respect for the hardy souls who toil the earth to grow our produce.  It is no surprise therefore that this post is about putting to rest some doubts that tend to creep up now and then about Farmers' Markets.  

Debunking the "Its expensive" myth

Prices at the markets tend to be fairly dynamic swinging wildly depending on the climate, rain, salmonella scares and even time of day that you show up at the market.  It is not uncommon for prices to start out high earlier in the morning only to be dropped to dirt cheap if you show up around closing time.  Last week I decided to keep an account and figure out what the actual expenditure was.  Since I never go to the market with more than $40, this is what I got for my $40 (no I don't go at closing.  I get there around 11am along with what seems like the rest of the city!)

- 2 bunches of organic carrots

- 2 organic red peppers

- 4 organic squash

- 2lbs of okra

- 1lb of green beans

- 1 bunch of organic kale

- 4 ears of organic corn

- 5lbs of organic plums

- 6lbs of organic peaches

- 1 basket of organic strawberries

- 3/4 lb of organic fingerling potatoes

- a bouquet of fresh flowers

That's not so bad is it?  But that is not all.  Check out this comparison for organic plums

Twin Girls Organic Farm (a local CA farm) - $1.00/lb

Coscto - $1.36/lb

Trader Joes - $1.49/lb

Since I rarely go to the other stores, I don't have their prices handy but am willing to bet that none of them undercut Costco (barring the folks at the Farmers' Markets of course)

The evidence is clear.  Farmers' Markets are not necessarily more expensive.  

It's not always organic

Yes, this is true.  Just because produce is being sold at Farmers' Markets, it is not necessarily all organic.  These farmers are also subject to the same expensive and time consuming certifications as the larger well known farms.  However, there is a big caveat.  

Just because they are not certified organic does not mean that the produce is not organic.  Legally, the farmers are not allowed to make organic claims but they are willing to talk to you about their farming practices if you pose the questions.  Here are some of the questions I ask when I encounter a non-certified farmer.

       

Do you use any sprays or pesticide?

What kind of fertilizer do you use?

Are you going to get certification?

How long before you get certification?  (the farm has to use organic practices for a minimum number of years before it can even be eligible for organic certification)

Where do you get your seeds from?

Do you save your seeds? (they would never be able to save seed if they were buying GMO (genetically modified organism) seeds.

I tend to go back week after week and ask the same questions to different workers in the stall.  I usually get a consistent answer.  Some of them admit to using some form of pesticide or fungicide.  Others claim to be pesticide free but divulge that they use chemical fertilizer.  Some are working their way to being eligible for certification.  And there are a couple who berate the certification process and its expense and unfairness and refuse to get certification.  (that's a topic for a future post)

In addition, it never hurts to check out the website of the organizing body for the Farmers' Market which lists all the vendors and their farming practices.  In my case, it is Marin Agricultural Institute.

I happily buy a mix of certified organic produce and "trusted" produce.  I also use EWG's Shopper's Guide to make an educated choice when I am not sure.  

Its not always locally grown

Last year, I came across this piece regarding fraud at some Los Angeles Farmers' Markets and I did think long and hard about this.  I personally tend to go by gut instinct but there are a few commonsense measures that one can take.  

Talk to the farmers

I like to talk to them about where the produce is from.  I ask them questions about what the weather is doing, what else are they are growing that season, how the harvest has been, heads up on whats coming next, recipes, anything.  You can find out a lot about the farmer and his practices just from talking to them.  One time one of the vendors started describing in detail what it is like to pluck apricots in the 100+ degree weather in Modesto and how his back was hurting.  Modesto is a ways off from Mexico :-)

Look around

Look at the boxes.  Look at the trucks.  Look for inconsistencies in produce, ie. out of season produce, random availability (mangoes and bananas at a Northern CA market should be a dead giveaway). It is easy to spot the small family farmer - he has small quantities of a variety of produce and often runs out of items if you are late.  

Don't have the time for all this

A friend once made an excellent observation.  These days, we spend inordinate amounts of time researching every single purchase, restaurants, movies, books, blogs, etc. Heck there are companies built around reviewing products and helping us making right consumer choices.  How then can we afford to take food and our health lightly?  It is a tragedy if we do not make the time to make the right choices about something that is so basic as food.  After all what can be more important than our health?  

So hit the Farmers' Markets and start exploring.  You will be rewarded with a richer and more delicious variety of produce with names that you have never even heard of.  'Flavor grenades' anyone?  That is just one of 5 varieties of plums being sold this season.  How about the 3 different kinds of 'Pluots"?  That's a cross between apricots and plums if you had not already guessed.  You will learn to appreciate fruits and vegetables that you have never seen or eaten before.    

I cannot bear to shop for produce at a regular supermarket anymore and my Sundays are planned around making a 1 hour pilgrimage to the market.  My kids now know that food does not come from stores.  They like to see the farmer who grew their food for them.  For those of you for whom the Farmers' Markets are too far or are getting ready to close for the winter, do try CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture) to get your produce.  

Whatever you do, don't just settle for what your big box grocery store has to offer.  

A question for my Farmers' Market groupies - what do you guys do to get around some of these concerns and get comfortable with shopping at the Farmers' Markets?