I love it when the farmer’s markets are filled with fresh produce, locally sourced meats, seafood from the coast, freshly baked breads and pastries and beautiful flowers. A great way to spend an early morning is perusing everything that is being offered.
If the reason you are going to the farmer’s market is to get the best quality food, then what questions should you be asking of the vendors? Should you just accept that all vendors farm the same way? Do you know the neighboring land and how it is being used may affect a farm? And which foods should you be more cautious about their source?
Every year the Environmental Working Group (www.ewg.org) publishes their Dirty Dozen and their Clean 15 lists. So, what does this actually mean? They analyze the Department of Agriculture and FDA’s data on the pesticides found on produce and create their list. The 12 that have the most and the 15 that have the least. These are pesticides that are not easily washed off. If you are concerned about the pesticides that you are consuming (as I think you should be), then you probably want to consider buying organic for at least the dirty dozen. So what foods are we talking about?
Now we have the list, and we are at the farmer’s market. We see a local vendor with strawberries, but they don’t say organic. Should we buy those?? Even though they do not say organic, they might still be a good choice. This is when asking questions comes into play. Ask how the strawberries are grown? What pesticides do they use when farming? You see getting organic certification is a lengthy and expensive process that many small farmers are not able to achieve; however, they may still grow their produce organically or with as few pesticides as possible. The value of the farmer’s market over the produce section of the supermarket is you are able to get to know the farmer and ask questions. It has been my experience that when the farmer is proud of what he/she is producing and the methods he/she is using, he/she is very willing to answer questions. Now please be aware of your surroundings and if there is a long line, don’t keep them from making sales to others. You may need to get their contact information and ask in depth questions at a later time or hang around until they are less busy to have that conversation. Remember they are there to sell their products and we want them to have great success so they are there when we return the next time.
Happy shopping while buying local!
Pam is a retired RN who loves helping people with their Wellness Journey, especially through food. Pam earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1979. Since retiring from nursing, she has stayed active in the Wellness Industry by helping people learn the importance of food and its effect on their body, including their DNA.
