Many people are getting on the local food bandwagon by selecting locally grown produce from the grocery store, buying from a farmer’s market, taking the kids to a local farm for a fun-filled day, or enjoying a pick-your-own outing. Helping local farmers stay in business feels right and it’s the healthiest way to eat. But, they aren’t making it easy.
COST OF BUYING AT A FARMER’S MARKET
Farmers’ markets are less than appetizing from a price perspective. There are many factors at play but, the bottom line for the end consumer is that buying direct is very expensive. Further, buying at a market is risky. You are assuming that the food was grown in a safe and responsible manner.
Some farms that offer activities for kids require an admission fee. Then, you may also have to pay to feed the animals. Don’t assume the animals will all be cute and small, or fed on a regular basis. One local farm has goats and sheep that are three quarters the height of your average parent, hungry, and aggressive. Add in a jittery kid or two. Then, add some smart boy that decides to rile up a bunch of hungry and not so small sheep. Needless to say, the sheep weren’t so crazy about being there. They tried to escape each time the gate opened.
At another farm, there are no signs or attempts to keep people from accessing unsafe areas. After an hour of picking and eating berries the owner may came by to advise you that the field had been sprayed less than a day ago and not safe for public access.
At a third pick-your-own farm you may be greeted by helpful staff. Then, you will be told which side of the lane to pick from and when more people come be told to start picking in the other directions despite there being plenty of other lanes they could have been led down. The farm’s strategy may be to force their customers to form a tight chain gang and pick within an arms’ length radius. Don’t even try to complain about it though, or you’ll be told that unless you are willing to “work within the system” you have to leave the farm.
It is no secret that farmers are being hit from all sides by economic, political, and environmental conditions. But, recent experience has uncovered an evolved farmer that is part of a society of pathetic, desperate, and greedy individuals. They are not concerned with public health, safety, or customer satisfaction. They are only concerned with the Almighty dollar. Unfortunately, this means that you cannot and should not trust farmers of any sort, local or otherwise. They are committed to the cause of making money and all else be stricken from their sight.
