Talk To the Farmers

A reader asks The Green Guide:

I would love to buy "fresh, homegrown/farmer's market" produce, BUT I worry about the substances the grower uses to protect the plants from pests and fertilizer. Not all farmers' markets have certifiable organic produce (especially here in the South). Am I being overly-cautious or foolish about this?

Sally

The Green Guide responds:

Knowing what to buy at farmers' markets can be tricky. For example, there are often quarts and quarts of beautiful ripe strawberries, but if they aren't certified organic you may choose to spare yourself the pesticides and buy organic at your supermarket, even though they won't be as fresh. Unfortunately, there isn't always a simple answer. "It is definitely good to patronize farmers that are selling local and regional produce," says Ronnie Cummins, founder and director of the Organic Consumers Association. "It is also important to make clear that you aren't going to buy it simply because it has traveled less food miles."

There are about 15,000 to 20,000 certified farms in the U.S., says Cummins, who estimates that at least that number and possibly more are practicing organic standards, but aren't certified. The ones who aren't certified tend to be smaller and sell their products seasonally and locally. About 40% to 60% of all farmers' market growers are organic, estimates the Organic Trade Association. If farmers aren't technically certified, but are practicing many organic principles you can stick with them. "There is an in between, but you have to do all the work yourself," says Katherine DiMatteo, Executive Director, Organic Trade Association. "Even if they don't get certified organic you have to trust that they are telling you the truth. For the most part I would believe it if someone could explain in detail what they do because they'd have to lie quite well to go through a whole description." Dimatteo also notes that most managers of farmers' markets will demand organic certification from any farmer claiming to sell organic products.

Below are some questions to ask farmers at your local market who aren't certified organic. Keep in mind that it's hard to come up with blanket questions because different crops are going to require different things. For example, says DiMatteo, if someone is growing sweet corn, you'd want to know if they rotate crops. You wouldn't do that with strawberries and asparagus. Ultimately, developing a relationship of trust is primarily your own guarantee. Talking directly to the food producers is one of the many benefits of patronizing a farmers market.

What To Ask About Fruits and Vegetables

1. Have you grown this produce yourself? They don't have control over vegetables and fruits from neighboring farms.

2. Is your farm open to the general public to visit? Farmers who have nothing to hide will often be happy to have people visit, advises Cummins.

3. Are you trying to grow organically? If you get a flat out no, there is probably no need to continue questioning. If you hear that they are trying, you should ask more detailed questions. Many farmers will say that getting certified costs too much money, but you can tell them that the government has subsidy programs to make it less expensive to get certified. Also point out that they can get more money for organic crops because it protects the health of consumers and farmers, and the environment.

4. What practices do you use to control pests, disease and weeds on your farm? What do you use to rejuvenate soil to keep it healthy and fertile?

Pesticides include insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides and are used for disease and pest control. Synthetic fertilizers are used for soil health.

If you hear some of the following statements you'll know that the farmer is paying attention to these issues and trying to make positive changes:

They are encouraging wildlife population, by using bat houses, owl houses, bees in the area, and beneficial insects to control pests.

They are diversifying the crops that they grow.

They are planting flowers and are using complimentary crops. If some crops, for example, are next to each other it can help control bugs.

They are rotating crops, not planting the same crop in the same place each year.

They hand hoe weeds.

They use cover crops, such as buckwheat or alfalfa, in the off season to put minerals back into the soil.

They plant clover to help build fertility.

They only use botanical substances made from other plants or minerals to control pests, weeds, and diseases.

They only use over the counter imports when they have a real problem and then they don't harvest for 3 or 4 days.

What To Ask About Meat, Chicken and Eggs

1. Do you use antibiotics? Do you if their feed has antibiotics in it?

2. What type of feed do you give your animals? You want to hear things like cracked corn for chickens, pasture and hay for beef and dairy perhaps supplemented in winter with whole grain or whole corn.  You don’t want to hear that they just get feed from the grain mill.  You want to know if what they’re purchasing for feed has animal byproducts.

3. Are hens are caged? Do they go outside and do they have enough room to take dirt baths and get grass outside? Eggs will lack omega 3 unless chickens get to peck the dirt, says Dimatteo. 

4. For dairy and beef ask if they eat from pasture? How often?

So next time you go to your local market, ask some questions. Most likely, farmers at the market will appreciate your interest and be happy to inform you about their practices. Happy shopping!