Hello friends!
I wanted to put together this guide because I know that when I started going to farmers markets, I was very overwhelmed.
But before I get started with my how-to guide, I wanted to point out something that many are not aware of.
FARMERS MARKETS CAN BE MISLEADING
This is the unfortunate truth. We go to the farmers markets thinking that all vendors are local and we are willing to pay those few extra dollars to support a local business. But when it comes to the produce, some of the veggies and fruits you find are indeed the same that are sold in the supermarket.
"But it's my local farmers market," you may think. Yes, it was a surprise to me, too.
My very first time exploring a farmers market, I decided to go to Redland Market Village. If you are a Miami-local, you know that this is in Homestead right next to most of the farms in Miami.
I was so excited. I had my produce bags ready and as soon as we got there, I was already grabbing all possible veggies. Until my husband looked at the sticker on the veggies... you know, that sticker that we hate because it's plastic and it comes on all loose veggies and fruits we buy.
Well, it turns out the veggies were not so local after all. I couldn't understand it. The farms were literally two blocks away. Why would they sell produce that wasn't local?
As soon as I got home I did my research and I found out that many vendors at farmers markets are indeed just resellers.
So, this is why I wanted to put together this guide and help others ensure that they are really shopping local at their farmers markets!
1. CHECK OUT THE ORGANIZATION
This will not only require some research, but actual exploration. It took me several months to put together a list of what I want to shop from where. I visited several farmers markets and stores that sell local produce to decide what's most convenient and also affordable for me.
You can read reviews and check out the organization's website, but you will be able to find out the truth once you visit the farmers market and see what's being sold and who is selling it.
The reason I am saying to research the organization is because they are the ones who set the rules and allow resellers to participate in the farmers market.
Here are some questions you need to ask yourself:
Do I see the branding of the farm anywhere?
When you get to the farmers market, the easiest way to see if the produce you're about to buy comes from a local farm is to see if the vendor has a branded truck. Most farmers come to the farmers markets with their own branded trucks that usually say the name of the farm.
Does it indicate that the produce comes from a local farm anywhere?
You can also do what my husband did and simply check out the sticker on the produce. It will indicate if the veggies and fruits are organic and also where exactly they come from.
Is the seller knowledgable about the farm?
The least they should know is the name of the farm. Although I have noticed that vendors who actually sell local produce know much more about the farm than just the name.
And the seller does not necessarily need to be from one specific farm. I have met some people from SWFL Produce. They work with different farms from Florida and thus provide bigger variety of produce.
HINT: No sticker does NOT mean local.
Sometimes, you may see that the veggies and fruits don't have any stickers. And why would they? If they come from a local farm, they don't necessarily need to have any stickers on. But after I found out about the whole fraud, because this is fraud in my opinion, I always make sure to double-check with the vendors.
Just strike a conversation and you will get a feeling if their products are really local or if something sounds shady.
2. BUILD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SELLERS
Talk to the sellers. Don't just pick their products and buy them. Talk to them. Engage with them. There is nothing like building a relationship with those vendors.
For example, during one of my trips to the farmers market at Tropical Park I met this amazing woman who makes homemade hand scrubs along with some other products all with organic materials. I fell in love with Gifted by Nature and I am for sure going to buy more products from her.
When I went to Coconut Grove Farmers Market on Saturday, we met the man behind In Your Face Delights. He gave us a sample of the granola he makes, and we fell in love with it. We'll be definitely stopping by for some more healthy delights when we visit the Coconut Grove Farmers Market again!
All local vendors are really nice and open to strike a conversation and tell you about their mission. I love listening to their unique stories and it makes me want to support them even more.
3. IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT THE VEGGIES
At the farmers market you'll find lots of other great things. For example, my latest find is the vegan nail polish by Pitahia. They are not only vegan, but they are also 10-free and cruelty-free. 10-free indicates that their product is free of the 10 very toxic chemicals that are essential parts of all other nail polishes.
I also love all the food at the farmers markets. It's fresh, it's delicious, and I can easily ask the vendors to put it in my own container. No bad looks given, because there it's all about sustainability!
I hope this guide makes your trip to the farmers market easier and opened your eyes about some of the shady things behind the scene. There are always going to be people trying to jump on the green wave wagon and just profit off of it. But there are also tons of amazing, absolutely talented local vendors who deserve their products to reach as many households as possible!
Farmers markets are not just about shopping low-waste. The reason I am against those resellers is not because they sell the same produce as in the supermarket, but because they try to compete with local farmers who are there to build relationships with the customers and give many people who live in a big city access to fresh farm produce.
Let me know how your next trip to the farmers market goes and if you want me to review a specific one here in Miami!
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