Food Farmer's Markets

genuinemommy · Jul 2, 2012

Want delicious, fresh produce from local farms?
Growing up, we got most of our fruit from our family's fruit trees, and many vegetables from our own garden. We swapped with neighbors and friends for more variety. But when we didn't have enough, we would always hit a local produce stand or the farmer's market for delicious fresh greens, peppers, strawberries, etc. Prices were cheaper, quantities were greater, and food was fresher at these locations than the junk you could buy at the grocery store. I didn't understand why anyone would spend $1.50/lb for huge unripened peaches at a supermarket. I could pull reasonably-small tasty ones off our tree by the dozens, and all it required was a little water, pruning, thinning, and love.

Now when I visit a farmer's market, it's not because I'm going to find cheap bulk quantities of greens from over-producing farms. Now farmer's markets are all about providing the most unique, interesting, heirloom, organic, or otherwise sustainably grown produce available. It's a fun adventure every time I go, and there are always CROWDS. Go to Findlay Market in downtown Cincinnati on a Saturday and you're lucky if you can find parking, then even more lucky if you can make your way through the hoards of people who are all interested in the same unique and delicious items you are.

Here's a few snippets from an article in the New York Times about small-scale farmers and the boom they've experienced along with the rise of farmer's markets. (for the full story, click here)

SEATTLE — The cultivated rusticity of a farmers’ market, where dirt-dusted beets are status symbols and earnest entrepreneurs preside over chunks of cheese, is a part of weekend life in cities across the nation as the high days of the summer harvest approach.
But beyond the familiar mantras about nutrition or reduced fossil fuel use, the movement toward local food is creating a vibrant new economic laboratory for American agriculture. The result, with its growing army of small-scale local farmers, is as much about dollars as dinner: a reworking of old models about how food gets sold and farms get financed, and who gets dirt under their fingernails doing the work.
“The future is local,” said Narendra Varma, 43, a former manager at Microsoft who invested $2 million of his own money last year in a 58-acre project of small plots and new-farmer training near Portland, Ore. The first four farmers arrived this spring alongside Mr. Varma and his family, aiming to create an economy of scale — tiny players banded in collective organic clout. He had to interrupt a telephone interview to move some goats.

“A byproduct of local food is that local hands are more likely to be producing, harvesting, packing and marketing it, especially for new farmers on small-scale farms,” said Dawn Thilmany McFadden, an agricultural economist at Colorado State University who is part of a leadership team for a training program for beginning farmers.
Other new farmers, like Christopher Brown, 26, a former Marine infantryman who worked his first day last month at Grow Washington, an organic farm north of Seattle, have more complex motives. Taking a break from the carrot-cleaning table, he says he dreams of building an organization to help bring other veterans into local farming.
Other urban-focused farms, including one in Oregon City, Ore., called C’est Naturelle, are offering, starting this month, one-stop shopping services: community-supported agriculture subscriptions to supply a family a full diet of food from one place, from eggs and butter to beef and greens.
For Jenny and Alex Smith, both 25, a couple since they met in college — now first-year farmers on a tiny plot about an hour north of Seattle — the economic equation comes down to lowering costs and needs.
They live in a recreational vehicle with no television or Internet service, and they hope to break even this year, earning perhaps $1,600 a month through farmers’ markets and subscriptions for weekly produce packages, so far mostly from friends and family. But they say a farming life still feels, to them, full of promise. They had boring office jobs in Seattle, they said, and now they have a farm dog named Banjo.
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Borla · Jul 2, 2012

I love them. One of the benefits of living in the Midwest is a lot of variety of fresh/local foods available at farmers' markets. There are 3-4 we visit regularly in our area. One of them was written up in a 'Country Living' type magazine as one of the 50 best markets in the country. The quality of produce, cheese, and meat available is awesome, and usually the price isn't much different than buying mass produced grocery store items.

cynthetiq · Jul 2, 2012

NYC has had a green market program since the 70's. It is nice to also know that they make sure that the green markets are accessible to even the poor via the EBT/foodstamp programs.

I love going to them. I wish I could go more often, but it's not easy for me to get to.

Greenmarket Farmers Markets | GrowNYC

Greenmarket was founded in 1976 with a two-fold mission: to promote regional agriculture by providing small family farms the opportunity to sell their locally grown products directly to consumers, and to ensure that all New Yorkers have access to the freshest, most nutritious locally grown food the region has to offer.

What began over three decades ago with 12 farmers in a parking lot on 59th Street and 2nd Avenue in Manhattan has now grown to become the largest and most diverse outdoor urban farmers market network in the country, now with 53 markets, over 230 family farms and fishermen participating, and over 30,000 acres of farmland protected from development.

This unique relationship between farmers and city residents has not only changed the face of regional agriculture; it has revitalized rural communities and urban spaces, improved consumer health, provided fresh and nutritious food to those most in need through our EBT/Food Stamp and Youthmarket programs, supported immigrant farmers, encouraged crop diversity, educated school children and city residents about the importance of regional agriculture, provided a wholesale opportunity for medium sized farms, inspired new culinary trends, and influenced chefs and eaters in one of the culinary capitals in the world.
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Lordeden · Jul 2, 2012

There are a few around town where I live. Last year, we were hitting it up every week that it was going on. This year? Not so much. I don't cook as much when I'm traveling (It's hard to keep the pantry stocked for cooking when you are only home 1-3 days a week), so there is hardly any fresh fruits/veggies in the house.

I've got some cards of places I want to buy from out of season (the free-range, grass fed, all organic cow farm is high on the list), but I'll need to be home more to really get into it.

snowy · Jul 2, 2012

We go to the farmer's market nearly every Saturday. We also have a Wednesday market that I go to now that I have time. I love Wednesday market because it's less crowded and I can pick up fresh veggies and fruit during the middle of the week. Right now, I can get my pick of strawberries, including June-bearing varieties that go quickly on a Saturday morning. Different varieties of blackberries are starting to come in too. Our market has a diverse enough selection that I can buy almost everything I need for the week at market, or at local places near the market. For example, there is a sourdough bakery just steps from market that isn't selling at the market this year due to a fire that severely damaged the bakery. They're still baking, but their focus is on their current sales and commercial customers like the local hippie co-op. There is also a wine shop in a building right next to the market that we usually stop at while we're out. The owner is almost always there and he is extremely knowledgeable about wine. He likes to expose people to new wines that they may not have tried, and so he is usually offering two European wines to taste in the $10-12 range. I almost always walk out with a bottle. For us, the market is part of running errands downtown on a Saturday. We go to market, buy coffee at the local coffee place, buy wine at the wine shop, and then head over to the brew shop to buy ingredients if we're brewing that weekend. I wonder how much business increases on Saturday mornings when market is on versus when market is not.

When we were on SNAP a couple of years ago while my husband was unemployed, I was very thankful for the ability to use SNAP to purchase tokens at the local market. Thanks to grants and fundraising, our market has a matching program for up to six additional tokens (each worth $1) if you use SNAP to get six tokens.

ASU2003 · Jul 2, 2012

They are almost getting too big though. The prices aren't as good as they used to be, and I'm not looking for the unique or different. I want mass amounts of local produce that they have in abundance and want to sell.

It is a 12 mile bike ride for me each way, so it is a good one hour trip each way on the bike trail which is fun. I usually go a few times a year to the one downtown.

I would still like to pick my own food personally.

snowy · Jul 2, 2012

ASU2003 said: ↑

They are almost getting too big though. The prices aren't as good as they used to be, and I'm not looking for the unique or different. I want mass amounts of local produce that they have in abundance and want to sell.

It is a 12 mile bike ride for me each way, so it is a good one hour trip each way on the bike trail which is fun. I usually go a few times a year to the one downtown.

I would still like to pick my own food personally.
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Price really depends on the time of year. Prices go down when they do have a lot of x to sell. For example, strawberry prices have decreased at my market from over $4/pint to $3/pint. Also, keep in mind that food costs have gone up across the board--of course they're going to go up at the farmer's market too.

Borla · Jul 2, 2012

snowy said: ↑

When we were on SNAP a couple of years ago while my husband was unemployed, I was very thankful for the ability to use SNAP to purchase tokens at the local market. Thanks to grants and fundraising, our market has a matching program for up to six additional tokens (each worth $1) if you use SNAP to get six tokens.
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I'm assuming SNAP is some time of public assistance for food? If so, and they allow you to spend them at a local farmer's market, that is very awesome. Even better if the market came up with a way to give even more incentive to use them there.

SuburbanZombie · Jul 2, 2012

There are dozens of small produce stands all over the place around here. Most are small farms but there are a few that are regular homeowners with large yards. We buy from them when we think of it or when they are along our way somewhere. Most of the time, we buy from the local grocery store only because the hours for these stands can be a little unpredictable.
Now that I think about it, I am surprised there is no central place for all these farms to go to on the weekends. Its not like there is a lack of space. The local mall even has an empty anchor store space...

snowy · Jul 2, 2012

Borla said: ↑

I'm assuming SNAP is some time of public assistance for food? If so, and they allow you to spend them at a local farmer's market, that is very awesome. Even better if the market came up with a way to give even more incentive to use them there.
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SNAP (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program) is the actual name of the foodstamp program.

Borla · Jul 2, 2012

snowy said: ↑

SNAP (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program) is the actual name of the foodstamp program.
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Oh snap! (sorry, had to)

That's awesome that it was usable at a farmers' market. I don't think that is true here, but it's a great idea.

fflowley · Jul 2, 2012

I'm also fortunate to have a really nice local Farmer's Market.
I think a lot of the people selling there are succeeding which makes them a minority of our local farmers.
The old dairy farm model isn't cutting it any more.
The more modern farmers have a diversity of product and at least a little marketing savvy to get their product in the hands of consumers willing to pay more for it.

genuinemommy · Jul 3, 2012

Borla it's a growing national trend. Findlay Market and many of the larger farmers markets in SW Ohio accept SNAP. A few links for your edification:

General info on SNAP at farmer's markets- Learn ABout SNAP Benefits at Farmers' Markets
Tulsa gives double-credit for SNAP$ at their market- _storysmartredirect
Delaware accepts them as well - Delaware launches pilot EBT program at farmers’ markets - - The Community News
And North Jersey - Ringwood Farmers' Market now accepts food stamps - NorthJersey.com

redux · Jul 10, 2012

The Dept of Agriculture has invested $millions over the last few years to encourage SNAP recipients to choose more healthy alternatives and to expand farmers' market participation in SNAP.

A website lets recipients search for local farmers markets.
--- merged: Jul 3, 2012 at 8:54 AM ---
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is another way to buy from local farmers.

cynthetiq · Jul 10, 2012

I just heard this on the radio this morning. What a great program to help people eat better and promote nutrition education.

Health Bucks
The 2012 Health Bucks season is here! Beginning in July, Health Bucks will be accepted at ALL farmers’ markets in NYC!
Health Bucks, worth $2 each, are developed and distributed by NYC Health Department District Public Health Offices and can be used to purchase fresh fruits & vegetables at all farmers markets in NYC.
Community organizations located in the District Public Health Office neighborhoods of the South Bronx, East and Central Harlem and Central Brooklyn may apply to receive Health Bucks to distribute to their clients as an incentive to support nutrition education and other health promotion activities.
Farmers' markets that accept food stamps (Electronic Benefit Transfer/EBT) will give one Health Buck coupon to each customer for every $5 spent using food stamps.
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Here is information on how EBT/WIC/FMNP programs are being used at Green Markets in NYC!
--- merged: Jul 3, 2012 at 4:54 PM ---

View: http://vimeo.com/17612244

View: http://vimeo.com/17577263

View: http://vimeo.com/17562163#

genuinemommy · Jul 4, 2012

redux said: ↑

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is another way to buy from local farmers.
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Yeah, CSA is a great way to directly impact your local farmers. You basically buy a share in their farm, and some farms will reduce the cost of a share if you're willing to provide physical labor during harvest. It's something that appeals to me, but I've never directly purchased a share - only experienced it through housing coops. There's a little too much uncertainty involved - never quite sure what produce will show up in your box each week. The worst is when you get a basket full of daikon radishes - it's basically impossible to devise a week of healthy eating off one obscure vegetable. I guess that what it boils down to is, don't dive into a CSA blindly. Choose your farm wisely.

redux · Jul 4, 2012

genuinegirly said: ↑

Yeah, CSA is a great way to directly impact your local farmers. You basically buy a share in their farm, and some farms will reduce the cost of a share if you're willing to provide physical labor during harvest. It's something that appeals to me, but I've never directly purchased a share - only experienced it through housing coops. There's a little too much uncertainty involved - never quite sure what produce will show up in your box each week. The worst is when you get a basket full of daikon radishes - it's basically impossible to devise a week of healthy eating off one obscure vegetable. I guess that what it boils down to is, don't dive into a CSA blindly. Choose your farm wisely.
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Good points and good advice about choosing wisely. Call the farm and ask questions.

I'm in my second year with a farm in PA. I skip the spring and fall seasons (some CSA farms wont allow that) and only buy in the summer. I can also call ahead and mix/match my box to some extent. A half share feeds two and always includes both veggies and fruit. Because we have enough subscribers, I get delivery right to my office.

fflowley · Jul 4, 2012

We've done CSA's before.
It's fun finding surprising things in the basket, maybe vegetables you haven't worked with before, and trying new recipes.
But yeah a basket full of just Daikon isn't going to put a smile on anyone's face.

snowy · Sep 13, 2012

It's peak season at ours, but I missed this last weekend due to vacation. I'm looking forward to stopping by this Saturday and seeing what they have. This time of year, I often feel overwhelmed by the choices in addition to what we're getting from our own garden as tomatoes really start coming on. I'm still trying to work out a game plan of what I want to put up.

Charlatan · Sep 14, 2012

There really aren't that many local farmers so, a farmer's market here would be a bit of misnomer.

We have fresh markets but, just like the everyone here, they import most of their produce.

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Food Farmer's Markets

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Food Farmer's Markets

genuinemommy Moderator Staff Member

Borla Moderator Staff Member

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Lordeden Part of the Problem

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ASU2003 Very Tilted

snowy so kawaii Staff Member

Borla Moderator Staff Member

SuburbanZombie Housebroken

snowy so kawaii Staff Member

Borla Moderator Staff Member

fflowley Don't just do something, stand there!

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redux Very Tilted

cynthetiq Administrator Staff Member Donor

genuinemommy Moderator Staff Member

redux Very Tilted

fflowley Don't just do something, stand there!

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Charlatan sous les pavés, la plage

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