Questions to Ask at the Farmers' Market

When I go shopping at the Campbell Farmers' Market, I am often bewildered by the buzzwords and sometimes leave the market feeling like I don't really know that much about where my food came from, how it was grown, or who grew it.

Often, it's because I don't know the right questions to ask or how to ask them. I recently went to the California Small Farm Conference. David Karp, a UC Riverside researcher and columnist for the Los Angeles Times, spoke in one workshop about the role of market managers in rooting out fraudulent vendors who sell things they didn't grow, or sell things as organic that really aren't.

Karp told me that it's really not a market shopper's job to root out cheaters—that's something that market managers and state and county inspectors need to be trained and empowered to do. But I do think there are some simple questions we can ask to help us find the farmers who accord with our values.

First, though, keep in mind that the person selling to you may not be the actual farmer, and it's possible that they've never even been to the farm. If you really want good answers, you'll have to get the name and contact information of someone who knows more so you can follow up.

Second, be sure not to ask a bunch of questions when the vendor is really busy, and let them help other customers. The Santa Monica Farmers' Market has a good system: every farmer has to fill out a form about their methods to control weeds, pests, soil fertility and visual appearance. These are kept in an informational binder at the market. I'd like to see that in Campbell, and at each farmer's stand.

Third, the vendors are honest and hardworking people who want to share the fruits of their labor in the unique market setting. Strike up a conversation with them by telling them your name, asking theirs, and saying, "I'm really interested in learning more about how you farm. Do you mind if I ask you some questions?"

Finally, remember to be nice, come with a curious and open mind, and don't use an accusatory tone or make any assumptions.

I'm usually curious about where it's located, how big it is, how many different things they grow and whether they grow everything in once place or on different parcels.

I like to know whether I'm supporting a small family farm, a large operator, or an organization that pools produce from many small farmers.

I like to have an accurate image in my mind of the farm, so even some photos online would be great. Or, it might be fun to take a weekend field trip and visit a few farms in the Central Valley or on the coast.

Every farmer has a certificate from the state showing their address (you can find a satellite view on Google Maps on your smart phone, right there at the market), how many acres they have, and how much of what products they're licensed to sell. If something they're selling isn't on there, they may not have grown it themselves.

This is more appropriate than asking whether they use chemicals or if they're certified organic, and gives you a more complete picture of their farming practices. Many sustainable and fabulous farms do not choose to become certified organic because it is expensive and complicated.

Everyone has a different definition, and I would like to know how much time the animals spend outside, how they live and what they eat. That's more important than buzzwords, which can be misleading.

I sometimes see produce at the market that I've never bought or eaten before, so a little tip on how to prepare it is enough to get me to try it.

Don't like what you hear? The best advice I've found is to say, "Thank you for your time. I'm going to keep looking around," or, "I'm really interested in buying organic, so I'm going to keep shopping."

Others have written on this topic on Grist and Mother Nature Network.