Farmers' market

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Farmers' market in Lansing, Michigan, USA in autumn.
Farmers' market in Layyah, Pakistan at twilight.


Farmers' markets exist worldwide and reflect their local culture and economy. Their size ranges from a few stalls to several city blocks. In some cultures, live animals, imported delicacies unavailable locally,[contradiction] and personal goods and crafts are sold.


Auf dem Vogelmarkt

The current concept of a farmers' market is similar to past concepts, but different in relation to other forms – as aspects of consumer retailing, overall, continue to shift over time. Similar forms existed before the Industrial age but, were often part of broader markets, where suppliers of food and other goods gathered to retail their wares. Trading posts began a shift toward retailers who sold others' products more than their own. General stores and grocery stores continued that specialization trend in retailing, optimizing the consumer experience, while abstracting it further from production and production's growing complexities.

Modern industrial food production's advantages over prior methods are largely based on modern cheap, fast transport and limited product variability. But transport costs and delays cannot be completely eliminated. So, where distance strained industrial suppliers' reach, where consumers had strong preference for local variety, farmers' markets remained competitive with other forms of food retail. Recently, consumer demand for foods that are fresher (spend less time in transit) and foods with more variety—has led to growth of farmers' markets as preferred food-retailing mechanisms.


To farmers[edit]


  • less transport
  • less handling
  • less refrigeration
  • less time in storage



To communities[edit]

Among the benefits often touted for communities with farmers' markets:

  • market traffic generates traffic for nearby businesses

Reduced transport, storage, and refrigeration can benefit communities too:

  • lower transport & refrigeration energy costs
  • lower transport pollution
  • less land dedicated to food storage



To consumers[edit]

Consumers often favor farmers' markets for:

  • reduced overhead: driving, parking, etc.
  • fresher foods
  • seasonal foods
  • healthier foods
  • a place to meet neighbors, chat, etc.
  • a place to enjoy an outdoor walk while getting needed groceries





Another reason that many shop at farmers' markets is that they provide produce at a much higher quality. Robert Sommer argues in his book that “there is no question that farmers market produce is fresher and more flavorful”.[8]

Regional emphasis[edit]

St. Jacobs Farmers' Market in Ontario, Canada

Canada and United States[edit]

Due in part to the increased interest in healthier foods, a greater desire to preserve local cultivars or livestock (some of which may not be up to commercial shipping or yield standards) and an increased understanding of the importance of maintaining small, sustainable farms on the fringe of urban environments, farmers' markets in the US have grown from 1,755 in 1994 to 4,385 in 2006,[9] to 5,274 in 2009,[10] to 8,144 in 2013.[1] In New York City, there are 107 farmers' markets in operation.[11] In the Los Angeles area, 88 farmers' markets exist,[12] many of which support Hispanic and Asian fare, and the Los Angeles Farmers' Market has been in continuous operation since 1934.

United Kingdom[edit]

Since the first farmers' market was established in the UK in 1997, the number has grown to over 550 nationwide.[13] A number of factors led to the rise of farmers' markets in the UK in the late 1990s, including the increasing knowledge of consumers, the struggles of British farmers, anti-French sentiment, and concerns over food safety and quality.[14] Consumers were worried about the farming practices by which food is produced, processed and the health and safety aspects of certain foods. The emergence of books, magazine articles, and cookery and gardening programmes influence consumer concern of food preparation and consumption.[15]

European Union[edit]

The EU has formalized efforts to expand farmers' markets to reduce food safety risks and poor nutrition through programs known as "Farm to Fork".[16] Farm-to-fork was developed with three main goals within the EU:





There have been recent reports of fraud and products mislabeled as organic or locally grown when they are not.[18] In some cases, fraudulent farmers' markets sell regular grocery store vegetables, passing them off as organic or locally grown, to which are usually sold to unsuspecting tourists.


Product categories[edit]

Meat at a farmers' market in Israel.

Pork and beef products[edit]



Meat products at farmers' markets being sold by resellers will include a “Distributed by/Packed for”, or similar, statement on the labels of their meat products. Conversely, meat products being sold at farmers' markets that are prepared and packaged by the selling vendor will not include a “Distributed by/Packed for”, or similar, statement.[25][26]

Unprocessed meat[edit]


Unprocessed meat (retail cut) products found at farmers' markets may include a government inspection legend plus a "Distributed By/Packed For/Prepared For" label. Other information on the label will include weight, price, and safe handling instructions.

The official inspection legend includes an establishment number (EST) that identifies the last company that did the processing/butchering, packaging, and labeling of the product. Since the label includes the “Distributed by/Packed for” statement, the meat may come from the livestock of other farmers/ranchers or a corporate feedlot. The presence of a government inspection legend identifies a meat product that was not processed and packed by the selling vendor. Meat products prepared and packed by the selling vendor/butcher will not include a government seal and will not include any type of statement that classifies the vendor as a reseller/distributor.[27]

Retail cut of beef from vendor's livestock sold at farmers' markets in the United States - no "dist. by/packed for”, etc. statement

The labels on retail beef and pork products that originate a vendor’s/rancher’s livestock will not include the “Dist. By/Packed For/Prepared For” statement. Note that the label will still have an official/government Inspection Legend that identifies the establishment that performed the slaughtering, butchering, packaging, and labeling because any product leaving a slaughterhouse to be sold for human consumption must have a government inspection legend. For example, a label that does not have a “dist. by/packed for”, etc. statement ensures the buyer that, while the vendor did not do the butchering/packaging/etc., the meat did originate from the vendor’s livestock.

The label on a meat product that is processed and packed by the selling vendor will not include a government inspection legend and it will not include a “Dist. By/Packed For” statement.

Retail cuts of meat products sold by a vendor that performs its own butchering, packaging, and labeling will not include a government inspection legend or a “Dist. by/Packed for” statement on the label. In such cases the vendor/butcher gets the carcass or other major cuts of meat from a government inspected slaughterhouse and does the secondary butchering ("fabrication"), packaging, and labeling in its own facility. A government official inspection legend is not required on a package of meat butchered and packaged by such a vendor because it is sold directly to the consumer.

Processed meats[edit]

Most processed meat products (sausage, bacon, hot dogs/frankfurters, snack sticks, etc.) sold at farmers' markets have labels that include a “Dist. by/Packed for/etc.” statement as well as a government inspection legend. The government inspection legend includes an establishment number (EST #) that identifies the commercial processing plant that made and packaged the products; similar to a package of sausage or bacon sold in supermarkets.[28] Alternately, a processed meat product sold at a farmers' market that does not include a “Dist. by/Packed for/etc.” statement and a government inspection legend is a product that is made and packaged by the selling vendor. There are also vendors that sell processed meat products that include a government inspection legend without a “Dist. by/Packed for/etc.” statement; such vendors are selling co-pack products in which the maker/producer prepares and packages the product according to the vendors’ recipe.[29]


Wholesale processed meat products that are resold at farmers' markets are known as Private Label products.[30][31] Such products will include a “Dist. by/Packed for/etc.” statement plus a government inspection legend that provides a number that identifies theproducts producer. The numbers of critics of private label products are increasing as consumers become aware of poor practices often employed by the products’ producers.[32]


Independent processor[edit]
Example - Label on Processed Meat Product Made by Vendor and Sold at Farmers' Markets in the United States - no "dist. by/packed for”, etc. statement

A product label of a farmers' market vendor that makes and packages it own product will not include a “Dist. by/Packed for/etc.” statement and it will not have a government inspection legend because its products are sold directly to the consumer.[26] Information on the producing vendor’s label will include the following information:

  • Name of Company
  • Address
  • Product Name
  • Ingredients
  • Date Code
  • Safe Handling Instructions

It will not include a government inspection legend/seal.

Produce and fruit[edit]

Ideally, farmers' market produce and fruit are normally grown within a geographical region that is deemed local by the market’s management. The term “local” is defined by the farmers' market and usually represents products grown within a given radius measured in miles.[33] Many farmers' markets state that they are Producer Only markets and that their vendors grow all products sold. Some farmers' markets do not use the term “Producer Only” and may allow resellers of produce, fruit, and other food products.



  • Variety Name
  • Is the product in season for the locality?
  • Can the Market Manager vouch for the vendor regarding producer only?
  • Do any products have a PLU (Price look-up code) sticker on it?[35]


All vegetables and fruits have unique names that distinguish them from any other, whether they are for commercial use, for home gardening, or heirloom. A number or alphanumeric string usually identifies the newer commercial varieties.[36][37] Vendors’ employees might not always know the variety names of the produce they are selling but they will be able to get a list from their employer (producer). There are vendors that violate rules by reselling products at Producer Only markets.[38][39]

Dairy, poultry, and other products[edit]


See also[edit]


  3. ^
  6. ^
  9. ^ "Agricultural Marketing Service - Farmers Markets and Local Food Marketing". 
  11. ^
  12. ^ "Farmers Markets in Los Angeles, California". 
  13. ^ "Representing Local Foods in the UK". 
  14. ^ Holloway, Lewis and Moya Kneafsey (July 2000). "Reading the Space of the Farmers’ Market: A Preliminary Investigation from the UK". Sociologia Ruralis 40 (3): 285. doi:10.1111/1467-9523.00149. Retrieved 14 March 2013. 
  16. ^
  17. ^ [1]
  19. ^
  21. ^ "Farmers' Market". 
  25. ^
  26. ^ a b
  28. ^
  29. ^
  30. ^ "Welcome to StoreBrands - StoreBrands". StoreBrands. 
  31. ^ "Private Label". 
  36. ^ "Vegetable Cultivar List". 
  37. ^ "America’s Best Tomato Varieties". Mother Earth News. 
  40. ^
  41. ^

Further reading[edit]


External links[edit]