"Organic" Farming and the True Cost of Food-A Small Farmers Perspective

[Gormy Cuss]

67. I read your OP after coming home from a farmers market.

Last edited Sun Nov 25, 2012, 04:26 PM - Edit history (1)

A certified farmers market where the growers must provide evidence that they actually grow the produce, raise the animals, or in the case of other vendors that they produce the products locally. Most of the vendors aren't organic, but all of them have a commitment to growing beautiful, fresh food. Some of the larger farms also sell products to Whole Foods thanks to its local products initiative. I've also seen local chefs picking up crates of fruit or vegetables.

I'm a life-long farmers market fan. When I was a kid the local farmers hauled in their produce from less than 20 miles away. By the time I was a teen there were only a handful of farms left that close to the city and the market was barely holding on. Now in that same small metro there are at least a half dozen thriving markets all summer and fall and a handful of indoor winter markets as well.

Sometimes the prices are higher at the market but often they're the same price or lower. What's constant is that I see the people who produced my food. I can talk to them about what's new on the farm or just chat about families, the weather, etc. It's a connection to community that is important to me.