I'm probably going to get in a shitload of trouble for writing this, but it has been under my skin for about two years and today just has set me OFF!!
I was at a local farmer's market today. When I see "Farmer's Market" I associate it with products grown locally and maybe even within the state if the "farmer" has land elsewhere or on the far outside terminology of things, part of a small region growing co-op. I think very fresh produce grown here supporting the local produce raising economy. What I DON'T think is farms in Florida, California, Arkansas and Michigan.
When I see lemons and mangoes at a PEORIA, IL farmers market, I seriously doubt even the best Illinois hot houses are growing those. When I see zucchini that are all perfect and nearly the same size, I have to wonder. When I see box after box after box that says Arkansas and Florida tomatoes on them, I scratch my head. One could argue that those are just boxes used for transportation. Hmmmm...I think I would put my tomatoes in a lettuce box not to be so obvious.
I'm not an idiot. I know what grows around here and when. Grandma used to plant right when the ground thawed and if her precious produce newbies were in danger of frost, she'd run out and cover them with straw. We always had leaf lettuce in early May, peas by Memorial Day and corn on the cob by July 4. Unless this stuff is hot housed, it ain't going to be here any sooner.
REALLY??? SWEET POTATOES and WATERMELON?? The melon fields in Manito have only had blossoms on them for about two weeks now and I'm supposed to believe watermelons?
So, right now, my sainted mother, who plants as early as anyone has broccoli, green beans, apricots, raspberries, spring mix lettuce, Jostaberries (I don't think you'll see those) cabbage and green onions the last time I wandered the produce "farm". The corn is close. Her apple trees aren't EVEN close so who has apple trees producing NOW around HERE (because I saw those for sale today, too)? Hot house apples?
Next, and a dead give-a-way I'm not full of shit. Boxes of fruit with the UPC STICKERS on them. You know the sticker I'm talking about...the one with the four number UPC on it that the cashier has to enter...like 4303 for black plums. PLEASE don't tell me the LOCAL farmer put these on so IN CASE he doesn't sell them he can drop them off at the nearest supermarket and they are ready for them to sell.
I guess what I'm saying is if you want LOCAL FARM items, you better ASK if what you are planning to buy is a LOCAL FARM item if that is important to you because I didn't see an outpouring of given information disclosing the items province. If the items are coming off the back of a distributors truck, it isn't anything different than you can buy at Schnucks or Krogers.
I also challenge all the Farmer's Market sellers to openly display the origin of each item you are selling.
Lemons? REALLY? Lemons at a Peoria farmers market. Snicker.
12 comments:
I am with ya. Last weekend we went to one of the local markets and saw the corporate cardboard produce boxes and the stickers on the fruit. The only thing I bought was some cucumbers and summer squash from a guy who had just picked them on his farm.
Have you been to the riverfront one? I love it and everything seems to be locally grown and much better quality than where I am guessing you went.
J:
Haven't been there yet this year. In years past, I've noticed the tomato thing a few times. If they are a local farm's tomatoes, I find it odd that they put them in big farm, commercial name, out of state tomato boxes for transportation, even if they ARE the perfect boxes to do so.
That is kinda rotten that they do that.
Just curious, is there any sort of "regulation" to selling at a farmer's market, or is it just a matter of paying a fee to reserve a booth? Like for example, could I theoretically go to Kroger, buy all the bananas and potatoes and then try to resell them in my booth? Any chance that at least one of these booths are owned by a grocery store manager selling the store's product in a different outlet (either legit or under the table)
I think I'd be pretty upset if I went through the mild hassle of going to the farmer's market to get fresh stuff and support local farmers but then find out that it was the same as Schnooks.
This is my pet peeve too. The first time I went to the "farmer's market" in the metro center there were bananas. I haven't been back. It actually makes me feel sorry for Schnucks. They pay to maintain a building and workers and then the property management let's some dude in a truck sell the same stuff with no overhead.
The market on the river front is supposed to be all grown/made in Illinois. The vendors have to sign an agreement verifying that to get a booth. You can see the form on the river front market's website. I hope they are all abiding by it.
You're exactly right!! It's for this reason (and the fact I have my own garden) that I never bother going to the Peoria Farmer's Market anymore. UPC Stickers?! Bananas?!
If I do need sweet corn or melons there is a little stand not far from me on Rt. 8 called the Red Barn.
Please don't paint all sellers at the Metro Center farmers market with the same brush! Yes, I have seen what you're talking about. Those are the booths I avoid. Near the middle are two booths that DO sell LOCALLY-grown produce----planted,tended and harvested by them and their families. These two are The Garden Spot (the farm is in Princeville), and Lester Schaer's (who farms in Chillicothe). While they occasionally supplement their own produce with that from a wholesaler, it will ALWAYS be clearly marked as such. For example, The Garden Spot sells Eckert peaches, which can't be reliably grown in this area. Bonus is that both of these farmers use "no spray" techniques, aka "organic" methods to raise their crops. So, if you're squeamish, buy your sweet corn at Kroger's (it'll come from Colorado, picked sometime last week). But, if you want the BEST TASTING sweet corn, picked that morning from a farm 15 miles away, go see Lester. Just be prepared to have to flick off the occasional corn worm.
Finally, when the Noes show up selling their Spring Bay-grown melons, buy as many as you and your family can eat. Their muskmelons are pure heaven. And be sure to let the sellers know when you plan on eating the melon(s). They will sell you one that will be PERFECTLY ripe at that time!
Thanks for posting about this. I've been looking forward to visiting the local markets, but haven't done it yet and it's good to know that I really need to pay attention to where the food is coming from. We have featured your post on our new Facebook page, Real Food Peoria. Please stop by when you get a chance!
-John
Unfortunately, the term "farmer's market" is either too loosely termed or monitored. I have no issues with those who grow and sell their own wares...even if it is something they produce outside of central Illinois. If Bob's Farms has a peach and apricot orchard in Southern IL, I'm cool with that. But to sell items that aren't yours, for whatever reason, just doesn't constitute what I (and it maybe just me) consider a Farmer's Market. And I also know that there are many places that do sell their own wares, via regular, hothouse or hydro methods, and I applaud and commend them!
J- I did notice this year that the early tomatoes were labeled as "hothouse."
I agree.
I just came from the “Farmers Market” in Pekin I saw only about half of the produce
Seemed to be locally homegrown.
I love home grown tomatoes!
One tip is to look for ugly imperfect fruit, dirt on the product is heaven!
Ask the seller where they grow them, do they really look like farmers?
When I went today I saw a lady with tables full of fruit still in the white cardboard
shipping boxes. Mmm, homegrown nectarines who knew we could grow them here!!
(sellers you can buy stuff local and still sell it for a profit at the local markets, go find it!)
My first job I ever had when I was 15 was to sell produce at the “new” Fulton St. farmers market in about 1975- 76. The guy I worked for and I would drive around all day on Friday’s to local farms and load up the truck with chip baskets full of farm fresh!
Post a Comment