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Who produces for our farmer's markets?

Posted at 4:24 PM on August 29, 2008 by April Luginbuhl (2 Comments)

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!

Comments (2)

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April,

You have really curious about the local stands that I purchase from. I live in Sharon Center in Medina County, south of West Cleveland. I buy garlic directly from a garlic farmer here in Sharon Township who also sells squash, pepper, beans, and a few other veggies that I know, for sure, that he raises. But he also has sweet corn for sale, and I know his source is in Norton, SE of us. As far as I am concerned that's OK, because no one near me is raising and selling sweet corn. All the "corn stands" are getting their supplies from Lodi or Norton, and it saves me driving farther to get corn that has been picked the same day that I purchase it. So I guess the most important thing is that is fresh and local.

I have a share in a CSA which is just a mile from me, and have visited the gardens and met the owner. I know that my grocery bills have been substantially less since our first CSA pick up in mid June.

I set up a Yahoo group for the other shareholders so se could exchange comments, recipes, thought, etc, which has been interesting. My latest post included the link to Locavore Nation, and I am hoping that other shareholders in our CSA will read your posts.

I have been following your posts, in particular and those of Autumn in WV where we spend a great deal of our summer, as that is where my son's family and grandchildren live.

I supplement from my own small garden. I grew up on a farm and have always enjoyed gardening. My mother made several kinds of jam and canned and froze a variety of fruits and vegetables. Now I'm the grandma and am passing it along to my daughter-in law in WV. She just got a dehydrator and today I sampled her zucchini and banana chips and dried apples.

Slow food or what ever you care to call it is "where it's at". Please, know how much I have enjoyed following your journey

PatB

Posted by Pat Brannon | September 3, 2008 6:01 PM

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Pat,

So good to hear from you, and congratulations on fully enjoying the local foods near you. I am enjoying the bounty here in NE Ohio. Thanks for linking us to your CSA. We had a similar list group with our CSA in Columbus, and it was so useful- especially for recipes.

Enjoy the fall harvest, and I'm glad you are teaching your daughter in law. I'm thinking that maybe this winter I'm going to see if my sister in law can teach me to can. I also want to learn to pickle. But, it all takes time.

Thanks again Pat!
April

Posted by April | September 8, 2008 1:00 PM