IF YOU EAT FOOD, you are being lied to every day.

[matt819]

72. Points taken. However. . .

I think we're at a point where we - that's a giant collective we - can't trust anything in any area - food, clothing, travel, politics, etc. Sad, really.

What's unfortunate about these articles is that it's a) so easy to lie, b) so easy to be found out, and c) really not all that difficult to tell the truth.

If you're a restaurant and want to be farm to table but can't manage it with every product and every day of the year, admit it. Say you try, and at least be honest about the things that are in fact farm to table. Cheese, bread, some produce, some meat and fish. Whatever.

If you're not the farmer, admit that too. If you're a reseller, you're a reseller. BFD. Admit it. People may still buy from you, but now you're at least moderately honest with your customers. And you'll almost certainly have more product that the actual farmer. If the folks who manage the farmers' markets, so be it. If they don't, then form your own damn market. Let's face it, if you're selling fresh red seedless grapes in the middle of winter, they're not going to be local. Don't insult your customers by suggesting otherwise.

If the best way to get the best local produce and meat/fish, is at the local grocery store, again, so be it. Buy it there. As the article says, it'll be the best quality, and the more you buy, the more the grocery store will order. Is it better shopping at the farmers' market? Maybe. Fine. Do that. But don't kid yourself that the farmers selling there are making any real money. If they can sell more to the grocery stores, let's patronize our local farmers there.

My guess is that the people who sell at my local farmers market are legit farmers, not resellers. In some cases, I've been to their farms or pass them along the road. Can I be sure that everything they sell is their own? Don't know.

I know there's a lot more to it that this. Overall, it's buyer beware.