Comments on: Facts About Farmers’ Markets

By: Big Kev

Big Kev — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 15:17:08 +0000

just out of curiosity, did you happen to grow up in Miami and go to high school at Ransom Everglades?

By: Ransom

Ransom — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 06:22:31 +0000

@Scott –

Florida had its way with me for 18 years. Now I can say what I want about it!

By: Scott

Scott — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 03:28:46 +0000

Agreed with many of the other comments above – Florida has plenty of farmers markets. A little less anti-Florida snobbery, please! We expect better!

By: Ransom

Ransom — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 22:22:07 +0000

OK, Floridians, I hear you! There are some farmers’ markets around. But it was definitely NOT on the radar of my family or anyone I knew in my town growing up in Sarasota County in the 80s & 90s. “Farmers’ market” was not a part of the lexicon.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 21:49:53 +0000

I third Maria’s response. I’ve lived in South, Central and now the Panhandle area of Florida and I’ve always shopped at local Farmer’s Markets, dirt malls or the corner vegetable stands. I work in Tallahassee and live in Crawfordville and it’s not uncommon to see people on the side of the road selling boiled peanuts, Plant City strawberries, greens or whatever is in season. It’s a great way to do my shopping!!

By: Reese

Reese — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 21:30:06 +0000

I second Maria’s response; Florida has farmer’s markets all over. We have them here in the panhandle and I can think of several in the G-ville to central FL area as well as Tampa area.

By: kate

kate — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 20:21:25 +0000

I would *love* to see a bunch of suburban Californians working on a farm to pay for their organic ears of corn. It would definitely make my day. Especially if the farmers make them lay pipe.

But, props to them for trying to recognize the work that goes into farming.

And, in response to the original question, I only go to the farmers market for the kolaches (delicious Czech pastries). I already know enough farmers. :)

By: Hypatia

Hypatia — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 19:36:17 +0000

I moved to Wisconsin a few years ago and was exposed to their farmer’s market and was unexpectedly blown away. I’ve heard that the one we have here is the largest local produce farmer’s market in the US. Since going for the first time, I’ve been a huge fan. When the market is open during the spring/summer/fall my diet changes drastically and the amount of fruit and vegetables I eat tends to quadruple, particularly the first few days after that week’s market.

I don’t own a car so the supermarket selection I can access regularly tends to have really poor quality fruits and vegetables. Seeing the produce laid out with the farmers there definitely makes me more willing to eat and try new things; in fact, when the market is open what I make for dinner tends to revolve a lot on what’s being offered that week. At one point last year I saw a woman selling only varieties of peppers, so I ended up buying those and wandering the market collecting other ingredients for chili which I hadn’t been planning on with the summer weather at all!

By: Maria

Maria — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 19:36:00 +0000

There are farmer’s markets in Florida. At least where I’ve lived in Central Florida and then Tallahassee. It’s a pretty diverse state.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 19:34:00 +0000

The Dirt Mall… err Flea Market sells produce. That’s our Florida version of the farmer’s market.

Now, that’s not to say some of the people don’t just stop at Walmart on the way..