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July 2005
Food Less-Traveled
Dear Friends,
This time of year, when strawberries are ripening, rhubarb is lush and fresh garden lettuce graces the dinner table, it really is a bonanza for those of us who like to eat.
The fresh stuff out of the garden or a neighbor’s garden is always the best. Of course our modern world of transportation has allowed us to pick up apples at the grocery store in the middle of January, when there really aren’t many around hanging on the trees in this part of the country.
It’s amazing to be able to buy pineapple and bananas from other regions and enjoy them on our table. But as cheap as food is in the U.S., the fact is that a majority of food expense goes to things like transportation, processing, packaging and of course, advertising. Very little trickles back to farmers.
Short of a major shift in food and farm policy in this nation, that will never change. The average food product travels at least 1500 miles to your table. And while it’s great to be able to access foods that are off-season for Cedar County in the middle of winter, it’s still good and healthful to get the freshest stuff you can when you have a chance.
That’s where farmers markets come in. The farmers market has been around for hundreds of years as a way for farmers to sell produce directly to customers and for the eating public to be able to purchase vine-ripened produce directly from the family that grew it.
We are fortunate to have lots of weekly farmers markets around the region, with more popping up in our communities all the time. It’s now trendy to go to market. The number of markets in the U.S. has grown from 1700 in 1994 to over 3700 last year. Nebraska has over 60 active farmers markets.
And those markets aren’t only for produce, but you can find baked goods, eggs, poultry and meat, nursery plants, cut flowers, jams and jellies and even home-made crafts at many markets.
This kind of thing is catching on. Many area grocers and restaurants are now carrying locally raised food. And farmers markets compliment our fine local grocers in offering things that are grown just down the road, without the frequent flyer miles.
They often offer produce in season, with most of the vegetables and fruit picked that very day right out of a farmer’s garden or orchard. A recent survey found that most farmers market customers say freshness and quality of produce keeps them coming back.
But vendors and customers alike say the friendships and commitment that are built up over time between farm families and the folks they are feeding are the real benefits of the market.
It’s not often that farmers get a chance to visit with the folks they are raising food for, so that is a real treat for many market vendors. And their customers get a chance to ask how the produce was raised and maybe even for cooking tips or recipes.
Food has always been central to human life and farmers markets bring farm families and community spirit back into the food system. These markets vividly illustrate what is healthful, positive and worthwhile with agriculture.
W.K. Kellogg Foundation
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