As I drove out early this morning to go to the local farmer’s
market, I was thinking about how much I love this land and this area. How much I love raising our own food, and how
beautiful the landscape is.
Once at the farmer’s market I had great conversation and
idea sharing with the many vendors – who are really just my neighbors - each
with their own patch of land around Farmington.
One sweet lady offered all the free oregano plants I wanted if I’ll stop
by her place – which it turns out is only a few miles from us. You see, these folks aren’t in this to get
rich; they are doing what they love and what they know. They want to provide real food, grown on
family farms, prepared in their own kitchens.
At the market you’ll likely see signs that say “We aren’t certified USDA
organic, but we use all organic practices.”
OR “Our food isn’t inspected by the USDA, it is prepared with care in
our own kitchen.”
It’s so wonderful to see that I’m purchasing herbs,
vegetables, lotions and other goods that were prepared by someone’s hands in
their own kitchen. Rather than made in a
huge facility, unknown to me, made by people I don’t know, and then shipped
hundreds or thousands of miles in a semi-truck and sold to me by a big-box
store. It is only because of this lack
of accountability that we feel we need that “USDA approved organic” sticker on
the package of food we buy. Rather, I
just take the word of “Linda” who dried my herbs and put them in a baggie for
me, or “Randy” who sold me a jar of honey that he produced with his own bees
and poured into a jar just for me.
At one point during my shopping spree at the farmer’s
market, an older woman stopped to look at the potatoes being sold in
baskets. She asked about the weight of
each basket and the farmer said he hadn’t weighed them. But rather it was just $2.00 per
basket-full. She said, “Well, that’s a
rip off!”
I stood in awe of her boldness to say such a thing and then walk
off. But then I felt sad... sad for her and sad for local farmers. As I looked at the smiling farmer behind the
table full of potatoes and other produce, I could see the many hours he put
into bringing this food to the little, modest market. And the effort he put in to avoiding
pesticides, insecticides and other dangerous chemicals. I could just imagine how many potatoes he
might have lost this year to bugs or other intruders that prey on plants when they are grown naturally. I could see the dirt
under his nails and the sun-kissed skin that showed the amount of time he must spend
outdoors on his garden. I know first-hand
what it takes to grow a good potato! But
this woman who made the comment really felt she wasn’t getting a good
deal. My guess is that she’s accustomed
to purchasing potatoes and other produce from large discount stores. Grocery store produce is subjected to
who-knows-how-many chemicals. (And as a side-note, potatoes are on the top ten list of the most heavily sprayed produce!)
I’m
sure she’s also used to seeing all her potatoes look the same size and be perfectly
uniform in color. Yes, this is what
heavy chemicals can do to produce, make it all look the same. She probably doesn’t realize that the “cheap”
potatoes she bought at the discount grocery are likely more chemical than they are food.
She also doesn’t see the value in supporting these small family farmers
who are our last link to real food that isn’t genetically engineered in some
facility far away. These farmers are also our
last link to seeds that aren’t patented by the likes of Monsanto and other
companies. (And yes, it’s getting harder
and harder to seed-swap with other farmers due to these patents!)
The reality is, these farmers are our last link to REAL food
grown by people who care about the food, the land and their community.
I bought three baskets of that farmer’s potatoes and said, “These
look great. I know what it takes to grow
a good potato!” And he smiled a small,
modest smile and said, “Yes, ma’am, it’s hard work.”
I’ll take that hard work any day for as long as I’m able. Buying from a farmer whose farm I can visit
myself, and having a relationship with that farmer is a wonderful
experience. It is far more rewarding and
comforting than buying my lettuce at the big grocery store. (Yes, there might be a little caterpillar on my lettuce - but that's a GOOD sign. If a caterpillar is on it, then that means it isn't sprayed with insecticide!)
It is wonderful to be able to put a face to
the farmer who grew my food. Just try
calling one of the brand-names on your grocery-store bought foods and ask to
tour their facility. I don’t think you’ll
be welcome. But most farmers I speak to
at the local market invite me regularly to see their farms. They are proud of what they are doing and
nothing is hidden from me, the consumer!
 |
| Our neighbors grow blueberries. These taste nothing like blueberries at the stores! All that travel time to the store takes out nutrition and taste. These are truly God's candy! Learning to eat seasonally isn't easy, but it's worth it. We will freeze many of these and look forward to next summer when we can pick them and eat them fresh again - knowing we are loading up on antioxidants that don't come from grocery-store blueberries. |
These markets also have many environmental benefits such as
reduced transportation costs and reduced vehicle emissions. (That strawberry package you bought at
Walmart probably travelled to the store from several states away – or perhaps
from Mexico – on a semi-truck!)
Farmer’s markets have
the potential to shift the local economy of their community by encouraging
consumers to change their diets and eat more seasonally. This allows more money to circulate within
the region and spill over to the other local businesses. Farmer’s markets are also less likely to
relocate than large grocery stores and they provide stability for local
economies.
I pray the local farmer doesn’t fad away while folks head to
big-box stores to get their weekly groceries.
Support your local farmers and find yourself happier, food-educated, and
healthier too!
For more reasons and ideas for farmer’s market shopping, see
this link:
Psalms 24:1
The earth is the LORD'S, and all it contains,
The world, and those who dwell in it.
No comments:
Post a Comment