Farmers markets are overated

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There. Said it. More expensive than Whole Foods and rarely better. Some exceptions, especially when apples are in season. But I'm just back from a prominent farmer's market in my city and spent a small fortune and I know it won't be better tasting than what I can get at Whole Foods this afternoon. No more.

how can you generalize? There are many amazing farmers markets and sometimes it’s beyond the actual item but knowing you are really helping support a genuine grower/farmer.

I could support them even better if local grocery stores bought a much larger amount, allowing more people to eat locally.

I’m with you, OP. I think farmer’s markets are elitist (even when they accept food stamps and otherwise try to get more low income people on board) and inaccessible (oh this market is only one day a week! and it’s a work day! and it’s only open for four hours! good luck!). A kind of mucky experience meant to appeal to people who want to pretend like they know their farmers and their “kiddos” are getting a “wholesome” experience where they can eat $14 “sandos” and think how great they are the whole entire time, only occasionally posting “pics” to “the gram” about how “precious these years are” and how we should all remember “to soak it all up.”

Big floppy hats, simpering people barely keeping a lid on their egos and bad music. No thanks.

All of this is true. but don’t you sometimes envy their happy, oblivious basicness? It really must be the height of privilege to live without the relentless hissing of irony and social awareness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s also a terrible deal for farmers to sell a small amount usually hours from their farm.

It’s a huge waste of a day. Wasteful time, money, gas.

Farmer’s Markets are horribly resource and energy intensive. From a carbon standpoint, mass farming and wholesale distribution systems are much more efficient. I love home grown tomatoes as much as anyone, but don’t think you’re “saving the planet.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Farmers markets are also not "good for the environment," as many have been sold to the public. In fact, they tend to be very bad for the environment because instead of one huge truck shipping uniform produce, efficiently packed and transported, it's a bunch of small cars/trucks/pickups all hauling random crap from all over the place. Produce also tends to grow well in certain areas of the country with more efficient use of fertilizer, irrigation, and topsoil. Farmers markets encourage local farmers to try to grow produce that is not efficient for their area of the country. Stupid idea all around for stuck up white people to pretend "local organic help farmer" do gooder hippie crap

Truth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There. Said it. More expensive than Whole Foods and rarely better. Some exceptions, especially when apples are in season. But I'm just back from a prominent farmer's market in my city and spent a small fortune and I know it won't be better tasting than what I can get at Whole Foods this afternoon. No more.

how can you generalize? There are many amazing farmers markets and sometimes it’s beyond the actual item but knowing you are really helping support a genuine grower/farmer.

I could support them even better if local grocery stores bought a much larger amount, allowing more people to eat locally.

I’m with you, OP. I think farmer’s markets are elitist (even when they accept food stamps and otherwise try to get more low income people on board) and inaccessible (oh this market is only one day a week! and it’s a work day! and it’s only open for four hours! good luck!). A kind of mucky experience meant to appeal to people who want to pretend like they know their farmers and their “kiddos” are getting a “wholesome” experience where they can eat $14 “sandos” and think how great they are the whole entire time, only occasionally posting “pics” to “the gram” about how “precious these years are” and how we should all remember “to soak it all up.”

Big floppy hats, simpering people barely keeping a lid on their egos and bad music. No thanks.

When you write it like that it sounds harsh but it's true, at least in Montgomery County. Farmer's Markets are so expensive! You are paying for the "authentic" experience and for the privilege of buying direct from the farmer.

I have been to markets in other cities and their farmer's markets are much more accessible and at much, much better prices. Prices you would expect when not going trough a middle man (the grocery stores).

[Anonymous]

Serious question - how can you tell when the farmer grew the produce themself vs reselling something they bought from elsewhere?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love farmer's markets. Yes it's expensive but it's more the experience. Lots of people, dogs, children, cool new foods and music. I did used to overspend but I now check myself but I love meeting friends and family at the weekend farmer's markets mornings before it gets too hot.

Dogs are not allowed at the Olney farmers market.

That’s awesome. I wish they would ban dogs from the two by my house. I’ve seen dogs stick their noses in produce and the baked goods just to have their owners meekly respond or pretend not to notice. So gross.

[Anonymous]

While I don’t disagree with many of the criticisms raised here, I find the fruit and veggies from my local market to often be much better than I can get from a grocery store. The peaches yesterday were sublime, as was the cantaloupe. And soon my market will have ever-bearing strawberries that are beyond delicious, and shouldn’t have to share a name with what Whole Foods will be selling in plastic cartons. So I will continue to visit my farmers market and enjoy the offerings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Serious question - how can you tell when the farmer grew the produce themself vs reselling something they bought from elsewhere?

Some markets say they are “growers only”— you can often find that info online. Some markets the food will still have the stickers on, which is a dead giveaway that this isn’t fresh from the farmers field.

[Anonymous]

have you SEEN the produce from whole foods lately? its not been great.

[Anonymous]

I believe Takoma Park is a grower's only market. They have a website with a description of their vendors. I find the produce to be good, though expensive.

[Anonymous]

In addition to being more expensive, farmers markets around here are full of products notnproduce. Soaps, candles, baked goods, artwork, food carts … they’re ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

The only good thing at Eastern Market was the pickle stand. RIP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:While I don’t disagree with many of the criticisms raised here, I find the fruit and veggies from my local market to often be much better than I can get from a grocery store. The peaches yesterday were sublime, as was the cantaloupe. And soon my market will have ever-bearing strawberries that are beyond delicious, and shouldn’t have to share a name with what Whole Foods will be selling in plastic cartons. So I will continue to visit my farmers market and enjoy the offerings.

+1. Pre-pandemic I used to go occasionally and always thought the fruit was superior to Whole Foods (my usual fruit and veg destination) but the vegetables were the same. Early in the pandemic when WF was out of everything, I switched to the farmers market. I have tried switching back but for whatever reason I now find the flavor and freshness of the vegetables to be superior at the market. I also buy sandwich bread there for my kids, and fish, and meat and eggs. I don't taste any difference in the meat and eggs but the pricing is comparable or only slightly more than WF, and the ethical standards much higher. The fish is superior to WF and cheaper. Also, my kids can get up close and see it, and that seems to make a difference with their willingness to try stuff.

I do still shop at WF, and Trader Joes and Giant, for stuff the market won't have (herbs and vegetables out of season or that the market doesn't have, flour, canned and frozen goods) or the market has but at ridiculous prices (I'm fine with dried Goya beans, don't need heirloom dried beans). And I'd love to buy the farmers market milk but my kids woke up one day a year ago and refused to drink it because it's not homogenized, so there goes that.

I too hate the dogs, but I recognize that it makes the market a more popular destination, which keeps it running. I also hate fighting the crowds who are there to sightsee or buy the prepared foods, but again, ditto. I may be there just for the basic ingredients but others want the fun experience and there's nothing wrong with that.

[Anonymous]

I never realized I should be putting so much thought into things when visiting the farmers market. For the first time in my life I'm ashamed of being an oblivious liberal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:have you SEEN the produce from whole foods lately? its not been great.

I shop at WF for 90% of my groceries and go in 2-3 times a week. Produce is terrific as it always is. Occasional misses but that is true for any store. Whatever people want to say about WF, their supply chains must be phenomenal.

The farmers market I go to has been around for decades and is a local institution. Things I don't find worthwhile at farmers markets over WF: carrots, broccoli, peppers, cucumbers, zucchinis, salad greens, beets, onions, potatoes.

Things that are hit or misses at farmers markets: all berries. When it's good, it's very good. Most of the time it's fine but not very good. And will be more expensive than WF, and a lot of those times WF will have tastier ones. Agree with seasonal but I've had too many instances of one or two weeks of fantastic berries and plenty of dull weeks of overpriced berries no better than WF's Driscoll berries and yet more expensive. You have to roll with the dice here but after a while it feels like you lose more often than you win. Perhaps it's highly dependent on local weather conditions affecting growing seasons.

Things that tend to be better at farmers markets: apples, peaches, plums, nectarines, possibly cherries. Apples and peaches are good value being both better quality and cheaper. The other stone fruits tend to be more expensive. There is also a six week or so period in late July through early September when tomatoes come in at the markets can can be a great buy. I don't buy corn but I suspect this is also true for corn.