FAKE farmers markets in Tennessee.

[Gary350]

Does anyone here sell vegatables at the farmers market?

I am very dissappointed in both of the farmers markets we have here in Tennessee. 90% of the sellers buy produce from the local produce company and resell it at a higher price that the grocery stores. I am looking for REAL HOME GROWN VEGATABLES not the same vegatables that are sold in the grocery stores.

There seems to be no law or rules against buying and reselling at the farmers markets. It is very dissapointing to buy a tomato only to find it is not home grown.

I think there needs to be a special cetificate or sign or T shirt or something available only to sellers that sell REAL HOME GROWN VEGATABLES so buyers know who is selling the real thing.

I ask people, Did you grow these vegatables?
Answer. They were grown on a farm.
Question. What farm?
Answer. Don't know.
Question. Did you buy these vegatable from Palmer Foods?
Answer. Yes.
Reply. I am not interested in over priced grocery store vegatables.

My plants in TN are not doing well I have not been here to take care of them. I am returning to AZ in a couple more weeks. I sure would love to have a real home grown tomato. All is not lost I have 70 pints and 8 quarts of home grown tomatos in Mason Jars and 54 pints of green beans. I should have melons, squash, tomatoes, garlic, coming up when I return to AZ.

[DoubleDogFarm]

Any vendor that tried to pull this off at our Farmer's Market would be tarred and feathered. We have excellent market managers and most of the vendors are a pretty close bunch. We have by-laws, county and state regs.

Eric

[gumbo2176]

My experience is that the Farmer's Markets in our area are selling produce grown locally, much of it by the very same vendors. We're also lucky to have fresh seafood offered at a reduced price since they are selling direct to the public. Shrimp that cost upwards of $6 a lb. in the supermarkets and seafood stores is selling for around $3.50-$4 a lb. straight from the fishermen.

There are also several roadside vendors that sell fresh produce, but their product is a mix of stuff bought from a wholesale distributor and local growers. Fortunately, their prices are considerably lower than the supermarkets since they have less overhead.

[Dillbert]

around here - bordering Amish country - such practices at "Markets" (by various names) are pretty dang common.

walk around the back and about all you find is corrugated boxes that came out of the south Philadelphia produce center. well, except for the people in fake Amish dress smoking, rooting through their purse for their makeup or putting away their bling jewelery....

right local, not counting egg producers,,, there's about 5-6 local farm stand purveyors of stuff they grow - and sometimes "early stuff" trucked up from their Mennonite brethren in more southern regions - which is always clearly labeled - GA this or NC that - and their stuff labeled "home grown"

also a couple local 'front yard stands' with the veggie patch out back/side.
availability can be spotty, and not a lot of range, but always real.

[gixxerific]

That sucks to hear.

My friend owns a marke, it's just him and his wife that sell produce on the side of the road. He does grow a lot and buy localy. But somethings you just have to buy things that wont' grow here well or just thing you don't have room for. But evrything grown localy is marked and there is a diclaimer up front telling "if it doesn't say local it's not local"

He is also cheaper than the big grocery stores near by. I sell/trade my veggies with him. I have been telling him to raise his price since it's way lower than the big guys' and better for the most part. He won't have it though.

[jal_ut]

Does anyone here sell vegatables at the farmers market?

Yes, I sell at a local farmers' market. The market has pretty strict rules about selling anything that wasn't grown in your own fields. The sellers really are the farmers.

Here is a shot of my table this morning. I joined this market mainly to market my honey, but sell a few veggies to make gas money. Today I had 7 varieties of squash, 4 varieties of cukes, pumpkins, watermelon, and some assorted other goodies.

[DoubleDogFarm]

[jal_ut]

moving

[PunkRotten]

Awhile back they used to be generous with their portions. Now they are asking more than the stores. I had a similar experience as you did Gary. I asked some guy about his garlic and asked if it was softneck or hardneck cause I was interested in planting a few bulbs. He didn't know. I asked what the name of the garlic is, he didn't know. I thought it was funny that he had no clue what he was growing.

[DoubleDogFarm]

Lead the way.

Eric

[jal_ut]

OK, those who would like to talk about honey visit the other thread.

Back on topic.

[!potatoes!]

we have two kinds of 'farmers markets' here. the tailgate markets (there are about 6 in town, on various days) are closely watched, and have rules about sellers only being able to sell stuff they produce (produce, meats, and made things like breads, cheeses, etc - with special allowances made for the guy who comes from the coast [5.5 hours away] with fresh fish/seafood that I'm pretty sure he doesn't actually catch); and also the big permanent 'WNC farmers market' which is almost entirely resale of stuff other people grow.

[lorax]

I live 5 blocks from one of the world's largest farmers' markets. The place is about 10 square blocks of area, and there are segregated areas for the resellers of imported fruit/veg - outside of those areas, the other vendors would tar and feather anybody trying to pass off purchased produce as their own. The only exception in the main fray are single-piece sellers of some import fruits, like peaches and apples - they're clearly marked by their printed cardboard cases (domestic cases are made of balsa wood) and as they're clearly identifiable as resellers, consumers can make an educated choice.

I'm lucky, though - that market is the place where most resellers of domestic produce will buy their fruits and veg for resale (countrywide), so I don't encounter them so much except when I get into bidding wars with them over things like a nice sack of cucumbers. And generally, when it's a little old lady selling a very limited variety of things (say, limes, cabbage, and carrots) I'm nearly 100% sure it's what was ready for harvest in her garden that week.

[Gary350]

I love the farmers market and I love the things that really are home grown. One market we have in town is a lot better about having farmers that sell things they grow. Some of these folks price their items much higher than the grocery store. I am not sure the home grown food makes it worth the extra cost it just depends on what it is. Being retired now and living on a monthly SS check I buy things on sale, clip coupons, ask for senior discounts, shop at the thrift store and Goodwill, grow my own vegatables, ride my bicycle to save gas, keep the house AC set on 78, use the clothes line instead of the electric dryer, I put a timer on the hot water heater so it is on only 4 hours a day when we actually need hot water.

Some folks at the farmers market tried to sell milk for $8 per gallon. I bought one mostly because I grew up on a farm in Illinois and remember milking the cows and remember how good the milk was. But it is not worth $8 a gallon when I can buy it for $4 at the store. Some folks were selling a dozen eggs for $1.50 more than the grocery store. Several folks selling things higher than the grocery store. I know people want to make money but I need to save money I can not afford those prices. It makes me mad to pay 30% more than the grocery store for the same tomatoes the grocery store is selling. I hope to have home grown tomatoes in Arizona about November. It is going to be strange having a garden in the winter instead of the summer.

[jal_ut]

I sell for less than grocery store prices. Most of the vendors at our market do. I would rather take less for the fresh veggies than take them home and wonder what to do with it. This is a good deal for the buyers as they get fresh local, great tasting produce at a good price.