FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why shop at the farmers' market?
There are a number of reasons to shop at your local farmers' market.
1) Local food is fresher and tastier!
Why do prices seem higher at the farmers' market than at the grocery store?
Farmers' markets frequently offer a large organic selection and this can make prices seem high. The price of products, however, is usually the same or less than equivalent products in grocery stores. Oftentimes products of comparable quality cannot be found at the grocery store. It is important for customers to remember that price is different than value. The value of products sold at the farmers' market far exceeds those found in grocery stores in terms of quality, freshness, and benefits to local farmers, the local economy, and the environment. Prices at the farmers' market are set to reflect the true cost of production, labour, and transportation, ensuring that farmers get a fair price for their work. Food found at the grocery store is sometimes sold at such a low cost because it's produced by large agribusiness farms with access to expensive technology, government subsidies and underpaid workers.
McNamara, Kaleen. (2012, September 11). Appreciate Local Farmers At No Extra Cost. Retrieved from http://www.bcfarmersmarket.org/sites/default/files/files/2012_09_11_faw-4%20.pdf
How much food is grown on Vancouver Island?
Fifty years ago, farmers on Vancouver Island produced approximately 85% of the Island's food supply. Today, less than 10% of food consumed by islanders is produced locally on Vancouver Island.
Genova, Don & Found, Jason (Producers), & Versteeg, Nick (Director). (2007). Island on the Edge [Motion picture]. Duncan, British Columbia, Canada: DV Cuisine.
What is the difference between food security and food sovereignty?
The terms food security and food sovereignty are often used interchangeably, however, they are markedly different concepts. Food security can be understood as a communities' access to food or ensuring people have enough to eat. Food sovereignty, on the other hand, focuses more on issues of power, control, and social justice and is defined as "the right of peoples to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through sustainable methods and their right to define their own food and agricultural systems. It develops a model of small scale sustainable production benefiting communities and their environment. It puts the aspirations, needs and livelihoods of those who produce, distribute and consume food at the heart of food systems and policies rather than the demands of markets and corporations."
La Via Campesina. (2011, February 9). What is La Via Campesina? Retrieved from http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/organisation-mainmenu-44/what-is-la-via-campesina-mainmenu-45
There are a number of reasons to shop at your local farmers' market.
1) Local food is fresher and tastier!
- Food at the farmers' market is picked at its peak, often within 24 hours, ensuring food that is fresh, ripe and full of flavour. Conventional food found at the grocery store is often picked weeks, even months, in advance when produce is still unripe.
- When you buy from the farmers' market, farmers get 100% of the retail price. In a system dominated by large agribusiness and food conglomerates, you help a small-scale farmer stay in business and make a living. When you keep money in the community it is more likely to circulate within the local economy, create new jobs, and ensure local economic resiliency.
- Buying locally from your farmers' market means that the food you are eating hasn't traveled long distances thereby reducing the use of fossil fuels and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This means less pollution and less trash from extra packaging. Conventional agriculture is also more likely to pollute the land, water, and air with toxic agricultural byproducts whereas food at the farmers' market is generally grown using sustainable methods that have a low impact on the earth.
- Farmers' markets provide a fun and festive atmosphere. It is a great place to build a sense of community and create a sense of belonging/feel connected to the world around you. You can meet new people or catch up with old friends. When you shop at a farmers' market you have ten times as many conversations than you would at the grocery store.
Why do prices seem higher at the farmers' market than at the grocery store?
Farmers' markets frequently offer a large organic selection and this can make prices seem high. The price of products, however, is usually the same or less than equivalent products in grocery stores. Oftentimes products of comparable quality cannot be found at the grocery store. It is important for customers to remember that price is different than value. The value of products sold at the farmers' market far exceeds those found in grocery stores in terms of quality, freshness, and benefits to local farmers, the local economy, and the environment. Prices at the farmers' market are set to reflect the true cost of production, labour, and transportation, ensuring that farmers get a fair price for their work. Food found at the grocery store is sometimes sold at such a low cost because it's produced by large agribusiness farms with access to expensive technology, government subsidies and underpaid workers.
McNamara, Kaleen. (2012, September 11). Appreciate Local Farmers At No Extra Cost. Retrieved from http://www.bcfarmersmarket.org/sites/default/files/files/2012_09_11_faw-4%20.pdf
How much food is grown on Vancouver Island?
Fifty years ago, farmers on Vancouver Island produced approximately 85% of the Island's food supply. Today, less than 10% of food consumed by islanders is produced locally on Vancouver Island.
Genova, Don & Found, Jason (Producers), & Versteeg, Nick (Director). (2007). Island on the Edge [Motion picture]. Duncan, British Columbia, Canada: DV Cuisine.
What is the difference between food security and food sovereignty?
The terms food security and food sovereignty are often used interchangeably, however, they are markedly different concepts. Food security can be understood as a communities' access to food or ensuring people have enough to eat. Food sovereignty, on the other hand, focuses more on issues of power, control, and social justice and is defined as "the right of peoples to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through sustainable methods and their right to define their own food and agricultural systems. It develops a model of small scale sustainable production benefiting communities and their environment. It puts the aspirations, needs and livelihoods of those who produce, distribute and consume food at the heart of food systems and policies rather than the demands of markets and corporations."
La Via Campesina. (2011, February 9). What is La Via Campesina? Retrieved from http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/organisation-mainmenu-44/what-is-la-via-campesina-mainmenu-45