Like the CSA we joined, the main farmer's markets in the Cleveland area are all organized under one organization, in this case, the North Union Farmer's Market. There are other independent markets, Kamm's Corners comes to mind quickly, but those are the two weekly markets I could easily find on the West Side of Cleveland.

I've been enjoying the markets. We've been getting all of our veggies and some fruit from the CSA and the rest of our fruit from the Farmer's market. Peaches have been great this year, as have been the blueberries. Apples and nectarines are in, and one vender even had grapes! Between the two we spend between $20 and $40 on produce a week and have more than we can eat. I'm even managing to put up some of the veggies in the freezer. I don't think I'll be coordinated enough this year to learn to can. Maybe next year.

The markets here seem to work fairly smoothly, but I'm not supper familiar with them. This time of year, the politics of the markets often start to wear on folks. I got to know the politics of the markets in Columbus because of my familiarity with some of the farmers, and the number of years I'd been there. I don't see the politics here yet, but I bet they still go on.

One of the big concerns at the market I used to frequent was whether the venders were producer-only. Some of the vendors at the market I shopped in Columbus would buy their produce wholesale and sell it as if they grew it themselves. It created a lot of tension at that market, especially between those who were producers and those who sold food they did not produce. I think that most of us don't know if the farmers at the market are producer only or not, since this is a behind the scene issue.

Farmers I've spoken with get particularly frustrated because as consumers we go to get produce from a small family farm. The producers who sell at markets often want to see it remain producer-only so that we as consumers can be confident that we are in fact supporting small local farms. Also, small farmers who make investments in perennial crops can't compete with large wholesale fruit farms sold at the market. It was in part that struggle to compete that created tension at the market I went to in Columbus.

To the best of my knowledge, the markets I go to are producer only, but I haven't built a relationship with any of the farmers yet. I'm working on getting to know the venders, but it takes time. I'm shy and they're busy, but I think I'll get to know before the end of the season.

What do you think? If a farmer has a stand with other's produce and doesn't tell you, does it matter? Does that impact your experience at all? Do the farmers you know worry about this? Does it take anything away from the experience if your produce doesn't come from the producer only? Is the most important thing that the food is local, or is how it is produced, sold, and represented important too?

Some food for thought as it were. More farmer's market musings next time, fresh from the latest academic research. I'll try to not take so long to post next time!