"Farmers Market" Means Something

We came across a fascinating article in the Delmarva Farmer  about the ways that grocery chains are positioning either their whole store or just their produce section with the words "Farmers Market" to tap into the authenticity of that time honored shopping experience - often to the confusion of customers.  The article highlights a farm stand in Hartford county where customers were asking if the farm was going to be joining "the new farmers market" - which turned out to be a Sprouts Farmers Market grocery store based out of Arizona with over 300 stores across the country with a new one planned for close by Bel Air. 
From the article: 

"While farmers somewhere grew the food for sale at Sprouts, it was sold at wholesale prices, Jones said, with less of the final sale going to the farmer than if it were sold directly from a farm stand or farmer-run market.According to the National Farmers Market Coalition, 90 cents of every dollar spent at farmers markets and roadside stands go to the farmer, [even more for CSA's ] compared to about 17 cents of all farm products sold nationally.
“The compensation is completely different,” Jones said. “What we’re really talking about here is a living wage and fair compensation for their labor and farmers markets can do that.”

We are not saying that we should all stop shopping at supermarkets. Some have great relationships with local farmers and pass their best on to you. However, if the authenticity and direct connection that comes with a farmers market experience matters to you, accept no imitations. A real live Farmers Market with farmers at it is where you dollar should go. Find your local market here as local food is at its absolute let-the-peach-juice-run-down-your-chin peak right now. 
Or - let your farmer keep even more of your dollar and go with a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Share.