the farm to market road
When I was growing up in the U.S. Midwest, I saw lots of secondary roads marked
“FM 24” and other numbers. My father explained that these routes radiating from
towns to the countryside were farm to market connectors. Today, with rising con-
cerns about food security, peak oil and frankenfoods, there is a movement to make
these connections short again.
Jude and I want to be connection shorteners. So Saturday we attended a workshop
called “Growing for Market” at the offices of Lush Valley Food Action Society. The
leader was Ellen Rainwalker, a savvy lady with a background in permaculture and
ecological agriculture. She gave a primo presentation to 16 folks eager to sell fruits
and veggies to their friends, neighbours and communities.
Ellen taught us how to choose the best seeds, tools and soil amendments to maxi-
mize our yield. She showed us how to extend the growing season for year-round
sales. Then after a break featuring outrageously healthy snacks (like fennel spread)
she covered direct marketing, with the emphasis on farmers’ markets.
In the abundance of resource materials Ellen gave us, one item spoke sharply.
It was an ’08 study done by Farmers Market Canada with the help of the federal
government. It concluded that farmers’ markets across all 10 provinces made
$1.03 billion that year, with a total economic impact triple that.
The study also revealed 92% of all market shoppers polled considered it important
to buy food directly from the farmer who grew it; 62% said it was extremely impor-
tant.
The newest stats I could find for the U.S. showed a take of $1 billion in ’05, but it’s
safe to assume that figure is going up. According to USDA figures and a Washington
Post article, farmers’ markets in the states grew from 1755 in ’94, to 4385 in ’06,
to 5274 in ’09.
I bet you have a pleasant memory of a visit to a farmers’ market. I’ve been to many
and they’ve all been a flood of wonderful sights, smells and sounds. In Santa Rosa,
California — where Jude and I met and married — two blocks of the downtown area
are turned into a market every Wednesday night from late May through August.
Another one runs twice a week year-round near the county fairgrounds.
I’m always struck by the good vibes at a farmers’ market. It seems like the whole
community is there, and on its best behaviour. The vendors are friendly and en-
thusiastic to share their knowledge.
That same enthusiasm pervaded the workshop. Participants exchanged support
and information with zeal. We laughed a lot. Each of us had a different growing
situation, from a 60-acre farm to a postage-stamp-sized yard. I hope all of us make
it to market. To me, this is the very best revolution we could take to the streets.
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In unrelated culinary news, my recent post on SPAM inspired me to create another
masterful meal to rival this one. It’s fried potatoes (or pommes de terre frites, as
they say in Quebec) and an omelette with mushrooms, cheese and SPAM.
Jude thought the SPAM was true ham. I think the Portobello ‘shrooms confused
her taste buds. Last night, to honor my “well-known pancake eater” post, she made
these: thick, manly ‘cakes with rolled oats, wheat germ, blueberries, walnuts and
chocolate chips. And, of course, a thick coating of sirop d’erable.
