Rollings: Diary of a market farm visit

Posted: Tuesday, July 26, 2011 12:00 am | Updated: 1:58 pm, Wed Sep 5, 2012.

Rollings: Diary of a market farm visit By Beverly Rollings sedaliademocrat.com

One of the reasons I love the Sedalia Area Farmers’ Market (SAFM) is that it is a “grower-only” market. This means that all of the vendors must have grown or made (as in the case of baked goods or crafts) the items they are selling, with very limited exceptions.

This translates into several good things for the market customers. Because the produce comes straight from the farms (and not through middlemen), it’s fresher, retaining more of its nutrients (and flavor) than trucked or auctioned produce. One can also shop with confidence knowing that every dollar spent goes directly to the producer, who is likely working hard to make ends meet in the gamble (and love affair) that is farming. Perhaps my favorite thing is that one can ask the producer exactly how her item was grown or made, and will likely hear an interesting story about things like fish fertilizer, beetle battles, heirloom seeds, and maybe a great recipe.

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