How To Tell If You’re At A Terrible Farmers Market

I was recently eviscerated in a reddit post where I mentioned a farmers market. I realized farmers markets trigger people and there are two distinct versions of a farmers Market. Here, in my humble opinion, is how to tell if you are at a terrible farmers market ripe with gouging, greed and shady practitioners.

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Preface: Before someone comments “This Post Reeks of Privilege” I want to express that I also shop at mass supermarkets and everything in between. If you have good stuff, fair prices and nice staff I’m all in. Not all farmers markets are for wealthy elites, it can be an amazing way to support local families, find delicious, often cheap, healthy food and meet your neighbours…If you are at a good one. If you are at a bad one, it’s just hell on earth with designer overalls.

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1. A dozen eggs is over $10. I don’t care if you have one chicken per acre and feed them gold leaf, no egg should ever be near $1 each.
2. Half a loaf of bread is sold at an egregious price.
3. The “farmers” look more like people who bought a hobby farm outside of Austin and run a hobby farming instagram account.
4. “Bunches” actually have like 3 carrots or two beets, they aren’t actually what most humans would consider a bunch.
5. There isn’t much parking.

Bonus! Indication You Are At A Great Farmers Market

1. Lots of dirt on vegetables and things
2. People have big farm looking trucks backed onto their stalls where they have clearly driven from outside the city.
3. In summer, the tomatoes are the best tomatoes you have seen all week but are sold in bulk not per 100g
4. Local people shop there (not just weekend tourists).

-R

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Ok, I want to Know… How do you decipher wether you are at a good Farmers Market or a bad Farmers Market? Or for that matter, a good grocery store or bad one?