So true, the farmer's market in Boston's North End is absurd. First, it's disgusting, there's rotten fruit, packing, and garbage everywhere. Second, half the stuff is pies, cheeses, sandwiches, meat, all of which are name brand and could be bought anywhere. Third, a walk behind the stands reveals that all of the fruits and vegetables come from the same wholesaler! Everyone is selling the same thing, albeit at different rpices!

mjo

So true, the farmer's market in Boston's North End is absurd. First, it's disgusting, there's rotten fruit, packing, and garbage everywhere. Second, half the stuff is pies, cheeses, sandwiches, meat, all of which are name brand and could be bought anywhere. Third, a walk behind the stands reveals that all of the fruits and vegetables come from the same wholesaler! Everyone is selling the same thing, albeit at different rpices!

mjo

Uh, this sounds like what happens when there's a shortage of supply. Maybe farmers' markets, far from being over, are just starting to get good.

The picture for this article was taken at Dufferin Grove Market in Toronto. This one is my favorite because they strive to keep it diverse and local. Sure there are a few vendors who make baked goods, but while one vendor follows traditional french styles, another uses soy products, another uses kamut and the market itself has a cob oven (i think its cob, might be stone) and makes the breads fresh that morning right in the park. So they are quite different from each other and fulfill a variety of consumer needs.

Sure, the markets have become trendy and do attract people who will buy up a whole lot of the goods. After some experience with this I think the best way around it is to build trust with the vendor and place an order for the produce you want the week prior. This way the "rich ladies" wont hog it all.

As per the whole-salers issue, just ask the vendor. Most of the vendors at Dufferin live where the produce comes from, and the ones who dont are at the market on behalf of the farmers. Even the chocolate guys at Dufferin have a direct relationship with the farmers.

If you are ever in Toronto check out the Dufferin Grove market on Thursdays from 3-7pm. There are some Cob Structures in the park and some great herb gardens too, very cool spot!

Peace.

The farmers markets in Seattle require that the people selling produce/grow the things they sell. There are no wholesalers, which keeps produce local and great!
Perhaps you should bring up your concerns with the people who run the markets and get them to implement rules to prohibit wholesalers...

Trends are over when they become popular. Good habits are successful when they become popular. Is it time to advocate for a producers only market?

Shame on the cities operating the markets as well. I suppose now there need to be ground rules for these events that prevent these sorts of things from happening.

I'm thankful the markets in Chicago aren't suffering the same fate at the moment.

Jason

98% of Lloyd Alter's post veer toward the negative and make me want give up entirely on this site. Really are farmer's markets over? Maybe you are just annoyed that the mainstream is invading your idealized shopping experience? I live in New York and have consistent enjoyed my market experience for over seven years. I think someone likes to whine.

this post is so juvenile -- it reminds me of my 17 year old self, refusing to listen to my favorite band because they'd gotten popular. Yes, there should be stronger (self-imposed) regulations, but is the mainstreaming of farmers' markets really such a terrible thing?

When Pike's Place Market was started 100 years ago in Seattle. The local grocers cartel did as much as they could (including threats of violence) to scare off local farmers from bringing their goods to market. A few intrepid souls braved the threats and the customers were waiting and purchased everything they had. A few more "farmers" showed up trying to cash in, but people realized they were just the Grocers trying to sneak in. When the people found out they trashed the Grocers carts and kicked them out.

If Pike's Place and other Seattle Markets are too crowded for you then check out Olympia some time. The Farmers market down there is beautiful and you have your choice of goods grown and made in the Nisqually valley.

I haven't noticed these trends in Iowa City or San Francisco, which both have thriving Farmer's Markets, as far as I can tell. In SF you can get samosas from one vendor and tamales from another, which is great for a fresh, healthy lunch when you're near the Civic Center. I don't mind the prepared food at all.

Take it easy on Lloyd, dude. Not all of his posts are negative, maybe he's having a rough week - how do you know?

So true. I grew up working at a few farmer's markets and growing vegetables outside Washington DC with my dad. Now I live in San Diego and "most but not all" of these markets are full of low quality over priced produce. There appears to be very few small farmers at these "farmer's" markets.

What is a Farmers Market?

And who are we to decide what is bought and sold at one? I shop at the Market where I live, and the Produce I purchase(only because I can't grow it my own garden) is great! I have purchased homade breads, from these same farmers. and on occasion, I even purchase a cup of coffee. Their is a Guy and his Wife who sell popcorn, and they sell lemonade fresh from the lemons off their farm. usually their next door neighbors sell fresh cut flowers, they always look and smell fantastic, and another older-man sells trinkets and such as well.

So, what is a farmers market? It is a place for farmers and alike to make some extra change(depending on your point of view, could be money, could be environmentally.). It doesn't necessarily have to be about fruits and veggies.

And for those of you complaining, wouldn't be better if the mass quantities of produce purchased were bought and sold locally? Think about the local farmers? think about the Super-chain markets? buy and sell locally IT IS BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT!

Oh I forgot to mention, I live in a farm-town, fresh from a big city...

As someone above posted regarding Seattle... look into how your farmers market is run, see what the rules/governance of the market is and what input you can have as a customer. If you can change your market in a positive way, vote with your feet if it is possible and switch the market you attend. I sell year-round at the Ann Arbor Farmers Market which like the Seattle markets mentioned above has a rule that everything you sell has to be produced by you. While there probably is some cheating that occurs it is enforced by sporadic inspections. Our market is governed by a market commission made up of city staff, vendors, and citizens at large and holds open meetings. If you can't switch actual markets see if you can start small and get a rule that says each stall has to post a small sign where the produce is from. Also, if you can, just buy from farmers you know (my farm motto is "know your farmer").

The fact that people are getting involved and are creating a larger demand for local, fresh foods certainly isn't a bad thing; though I think the lack of respect in the scenario described above is a problem. Perhaps contacting the market master, or whoever is in charge of the vendors, would be beneficial for all of the customers that I am sure, feel the same way. Otherwise, I agree with scomo's advice.

PleaseShutUp, you should heed your own advice: Lloyd's post offers food for thought, your's doesn't. Don't you see the irony in whining about whining?

I've had the same experience as Lloyd and many of the posters here: trying to establish myself in a new city, it's been impossible for me to find an adequate market. I've only found one, far away, that outdoes my local supermarket. In fact, supermarkets seem to be getting more savvy than the farmers themselves at marketing a whole variety of farm-fresh produce. THAT"s a good development, but I still don't get as much variety as I used to at my old market.