Fresh Produce Still Unaffordable

categories: Cities, Health & Healthcare, Hunger, Inequality, Social Programs, The Economy

Published October 31, 2009 @ 09:00AM PT

Where I live in Boston, farmers' markets abound in the summer and fall. I stopped by the Allston Farmers' Market yesterday, where there were free samples of apple cider, pumpkin painting for the kids*, live music, and t-shirts for sale. So nice!

This farmers' market is at a busy intersection, includes parking, is across the street from an affordable housing complex, and is on 2 bus lines. It runs on Friday afternoons until 7pm, so feasibly working people can stop by on their way home. So many conveniences. Also nice.

I then spent $12.50 on 5 carrots, a pint of grape tomatoes, and 6 apples. Not so nice. $12.50??? Does this seem high to anyone else or is it just me? (Granted, I did not buy the apples in bulk, which might have saved me some $$.)

I like supporting organic farms, local farms, local businesses, all that jazz. It's important to me. And I'm thrilled to see this farmers' market accepts EBT, WIC, etc. But with those prices, why would the average low-income shopper part with their dollars there? Can't I stretch my dollars a lot further at the grocery store, purchasing produce shipped in from CA and Mexico? Can't I get more bang for my buck from canned and frozen foods?

I know, we have an entire blog about this here at Change.org and a weekly series on hunger, food and poverty on this blog. But sometimes it's not until you hear "$9.80" for 6 apples and some grape tomatoes that you start to think twice about all the good ideas we're trying to push on society.

To end on a more positive note, this morning I donated pounds of fish to Haley House, courtesy of Greg's post on Ample Harvest. Fresh frozen cod, whiting, flounder, shrimp and scallops - all the fish from a community-supported fishery I was in this summer. That felt a lot better.

*Happy Halloween!

(Photo of one of Boston's best known farmers' markets near Haymarket downtown by hydephine)

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Comments (12)

Farmers market produce is extremely expensive (although prices in the suburbs and smaller cities are usually much more reasonable than say in Boston or DC).

But the fact remains that for most shoppers, the farmers market is just a completely unaffordable experience. And to be honest, it bothers me how the "farmers market" has become almost an upscale destination, rather than a place for a community to meet and exchange food, recipes and ideas.

One thing I'd ask everyone to keep in mind though is that farmers, for the most part, are blue-collar people. Their prices at the market reflect what it actually costs them to grow the food (without the benefit of huge economies of scale, cheap labor and expensive technology), and allows most of them to live comfortable, yet truly simple lives.

There is a larger issue here, mainly access to fresh and healthy food, and one that the farmers market alone is not going to solve.

(Leigh, I meant to respond to your question, but am so happy you found a place to take your fish!)

Posted by Greg Plotkin on 11/02/2009 @ 07:49AM PT
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As an Americorps member I'm definitely one of those people who can't afford to shop at farmer's markets, but I've been managing to regularly since deciding to transition to an organic diet. Here in New Orleans I was able to start shopping at the Crescent City Farmer's Market because during the summer they had a promotion where they doubled food stamp purchases. They also take food stamps year-round, making it easier for the many poor in this city to afford to eat healthy. If more farmer's markets were able to do this eating healthy wouldn't be such a class issue.

Posted by Denise Moore on 11/02/2009 @ 08:46PM PT
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I freely admit to not being an expert... but as someone who's done the farmer's markets in NYC, I wouldn't say the price experience is universal. My apples - which are the only ones I'll buy now - cost about $1 each, and come in a wide variety (which, I must admit, I never found in Boston, anywhere). I have to believe that the factors are not entirely class... but cost of transport, proximity and labor. Those are dials that can be moved... with effort.

Second, though, I think we have to be honest, as always, about accepting that we have no control over the diet of others, and no more right to dictate to the poor than to any other group about what to eat or not eat. I buy fresh produce cause I like it... if I didn't, I'd buy more at Stop and Shop with my limited resources. The money is part of the issue... but what I like to eat informs a lot more of my choice. And I think until our food politics is less classist about taste, we won't solve the class issues around cost.

Posted by NYC Weboy on 11/03/2009 @ 10:25AM PT
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As a disabled person, on Social Security Disability, and living in New York City on roughly $650/month - I've observed that, even though farmers markets are expensive, mostly due to a lack of the slave labor used on the west coast - the NUTRITIONAL VALUE, dollar-for-dollar, is at least the same, if not better. We run less risk of having food that's been urinated on, too.

And I know it's generally futile to try to explain basic economics to most Liberals - but to simplify it as best I can... as more people buy these items, farmers will be able to produce more, and prices will drop.

Posted by Bobby Steele on 11/03/2009 @ 11:55AM PT
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I guess if it's hard to explain economics to liberals, it's even harder to explain reality to conservatives.

Land and water are finite resources, so the economic assumption of supply and demand does not work in this instance (i.e. you can't unpave farmland to produce more food). Also the small farmers that do direct to consumer marketing don't have the ability to increase production on a large scale (notice how stuff always sells out by the end of the market...it's not that farmers don't want to sell more...they just can't produce more).

And if you think that large-scale commodity growers are going to switch to direct marketing than you obviously have no concept of what the agriculture sector in the U.S. is really about.

Posted by Greg Plotkin on 11/03/2009 @ 12:16PM PT
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Jeez, your both wrong and right, in the same breath.

Bobby, we have plenty of "slave labor," here on the West Coast, but we can't even afford to employ slaves. Environmental legislation has made it impossible to produce more, not supply and demand. These stupid laws appear to be the result of, "Liberals doing what they do best," but really they're not.

These are Conservative farm corporations doing what they do best. Capitalizing on the small farmers inability to, "pay to play." They market unfounded environmental legislation to the environmentalist. In turn, they jump on the, "save the planet-bandwagon;" start screaming and complaining about insecticides, sustainability, and air quality. This allows laws to pass, binding small farmers to regulations they have no way to afford. After the small farmers are bankrupt, their land is sold to huge farm corporations...the end.

The answer for small farmers was "organic farming."(Which the application reads like a, "how to buy off you government" check-list.) In reality, organic is no safer. The insecticides/herbicides, approved for organic application, would rival any synthetic in the "dangerous department." I personally think they are more dangerous.

Our country has some of the highest standards for MRL's on products that go to export. But we have the lowest standards on imports;(Go figure?) This means our Government wants us to eat poison. Here are some links for both of you; see what U.S. Ag. is really about. www.codexalimentarius.net/download/report/670/al30_39e.pdf

www.epa.gov/oppfead1/international/naftatwg/index.html

Posted by L.S. hope on 11/04/2009 @ 01:32AM PT
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L.S.

So what you're saying, is that 'Government is the problem' - which is the Conservatiev philosophy, as opposed to the Left's totalitarian control of every aspect.

When a Conservative likes organic food, he chooses to eat it. When a Liberal likes Organic food, he wants to pass laws forcing everyone to eat organic. It goes the same for guns, and anything else - Conservatives 'Conserve' Freedom, while Liberals apply it at thier convenience.

Organic purists miss out on the exact scientific details that you point out. I choose organics, only if they taste better - mostly. I don't see it as the near-religion that some treat it as. I listen to my body - and if I feel lousy after I eat something, I don't eat it again.

It does need to be addressed that, since the rise of scientific farming - we live longer, and face less food-borne illness. There's a happy medium, just don't tell me that I HAVE to eat my Veggies.

Posted by Bobby Steele on 11/08/2009 @ 09:59AM PT
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I have a farm in Iowa. Due to modern technology corn production on our farm has gone from 60 bushel per acre (mid 60s era) to 230 Bushels per acre (this years yield). We sprayed things on the corn in the 60s that scare me today. The time involved to raise a bushel of corn is a fraction of what it used to be. The profit per bushel is a fraction of what it was, yet I'm sure we make more today per acre.

I am suspect this is the relationship between factory produce production and small farm produce production today. It is employing yesterday's methods and profit structure.

I believe we are flawed economic model. I believe we need to put a value on keeping and turning money in a local community. The agriculture country in the middle of the USA is suffering far less recession than any other part of the country.

Big Business and big Government cry protectionism to protect their international trade policies that encourage cheap labor internationally. Matching these labor wages will take America from a 2nd world country to a 3rd world country.

We have been taught to forget money circulates in a community. Over 6 people make a living from a dollar spent for locally manufactured produce or products. When products are purchased outside the community and sold each dollar turns about 3 times in the local economy. Each turn represents a job. We wonder why we have unemployment.

Posted by Mark Knudsen on 11/04/2009 @ 03:17PM PT
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Mr. Knudsen, if I weren't married, I'd kiss you. (Hey Greg, and I'll say it again; "Get us out of NAFTA!!!")

Posted by L.S. hope on 11/04/2009 @ 08:01PM PT
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And all that Iowa corn brings us some of the sweetest Venison, as the deer raid those farms.

When I've driven by some of those farms, I can't fathom how you do it...

(and I'll keep quiet about the 'ditch weed')

Posted by Bobby Steele on 11/08/2009 @ 10:04AM PT
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In keeping with the topic of fresh Produce Still Unaffordable, I believe we do need to embrace or factor in the life experiences when we calculate the cost.

Winos buy wine solely based on price. I hope we are looking for more out of life than that.

Losing corn from our fields feed the deer. In turn the instate and out of state hunters stay at our motels and eat at our restaurants.These people bring prosperity to our towns and leave better off for the experience.

So how do you figure the true worth of those deer?

The ditch weed or industrial hemp was grown in Iowa during WW1 for the purpose of making rope. The first chance of controlling or killing the stuff came with the introduction of 2,4D spray in the 50s. Unfortunately the 2,4D destroyed the grape population in Iowa. The Loess Hills area around Council Bluffs is a very good grape growing area. With the introduction of Genetically Modified corn and soybeans 2,4D is no longer used on the crops. Local wineries and vineyards are coming back.

In 1968 two young gentlemen from California were headed for the Democratic convention in Chicago and had car trouble. In the process of helping them one of them noticed hemp 10 ft tall and 20 ft deep growing around our feed lot. One went down and played his wooden flute to the cattle while the other walked around the fence looking at the weeds. I believe they were the first ones to declare Iowa heaven.

Posted by Mark Knudsen on 11/09/2009 @ 10:53AM PT
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Mark,

The 'dtichweed' that I came across near Cedar Rapids was PURPLE and sticky. We didn't make any rope, but I guess you could say we TIED one on.

Posted by Bobby Steele on 11/10/2009 @ 01:09PM PT
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Author

Leigh is a PhD candidate in urban planning at MIT, and a consultant on U.S. Gulf Coast recovery. She sits on the Board of the Allston-Brighton Community Development Corporation in Boston, and has worked with non-profits, foundations and local governments on policies and programs aimed at reducing urban poverty and inequality.