How to spot a fake at your local farmers' market
You go to a farmers’ market for the freshest, best-tasting fruits and vegetables at the peak of the growing season. You’re hoping to avoid shady characters. Here are tips on getting the best bounty—with six ways to spot a fake farmer. (And tell us your stories!)
The town I grew up in had lots of farms, mostly dairy, but there were some truck farms, too, that grew all kinds of vegetables for the city markets. Each one had its own farm stand where we could pick up whatever was in season for a reasonable price.
One family that lived right on the main highway did not have a farm, but they took advantage of the location by selling a few things they grew in their garden and many items that they did not grow. The dad worked at the racetrack in Boston, and his wife and kids manned the stand during the week. (At that time, you could set up a stand without any kind of licensing or paying any vendor or business fees to the state if you had produced what you were selling.)
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My father, ever the wise guy, would always ask questions like, “Where are the trees these cherries came from?” or “How did you get such big watermelons to ripen in June?” But he never received more than a shrug in answer. He knew the dad was hitting the wholesale produce market in Boston to stock his stand. This fake farm stand was in business for years, selling all manner of out-of-season produce until the day they started selling bananas. That was the last straw.
What is a Farmers’ Market
The idea of a farmers’ market is to have access to fruits and vegetables that are grown where you live, not hundreds of miles away or even in another country. You’re supporting local farmers in return for the most luscious, flavorful, freshest produce—often harvested that very morning.
One of the best things about good farmers’ markets are that they really do put a face on your food. A direct sale from farmer to consumer gives shoppers a chance to connect with the people who grow their food.
6 Ways to Spot a Fake Farmers’ Market
Real farmers work very hard and get up very early to bring their best produce to the farmers’ markets. But here and there, you’ll run into a farmers’ market stand that isn’t legit. They may wear the right clothes, but you’ll start to see produce that’s not at the peak of the season and other indicators. Here are 6 simple ways to spot a fake:
- Do you know what grows where you live? Anyone selling produce that does not grow in your climate—like bananas or avocados in New England—are phonies. If you’re looking for a great deal, this may be your guy, but it’s not the farmer.
- Do you know what’s in season where you live? If you see out-of-season items like corn in June—when everyone else’s corn is not even knee-high—it’s definitely a phony farmer. True, some greenhouse growers can get a head-start on the season and have things like tomatoes or peppers way ahead of everyone else, but they will be happy to tell you all about their farming operation and may even invite you to visit if you are skeptical.
- Beware of vendors who do not answer your questions. A couple of questions that can’t be answered isn’t a good sign. Sure, there are always helpers at the cashier register, but someone at the farm stand should know how the produce was grown, when it was picked, and everything else about their food. Stick with those vendors.
- Fancy packaging? If you see labeled boxes of produce, plastic clamshells, PLU stickers, or other packaging, that’s another cue that it’s not grown on the farmers’ land that morning!
- Perfect produce and just TOO pretty? If you’ve ever grown your own, you know that home-grown organic veggies have character and flavor; they aren’t perfect-looking. If you want looks, go to the grocery store for that perfectly round, flawless, greenhouse, sprayed tomato (but don’t expect it to be red and savory inside!).
- What is local? Be careful when you hear that food is “local” in a market. How far away is still considered local? Native to where? Most farmers’ markets have strict rules governing who can sell and guidelines about what can be sold. Ask the farmers’ market.
Two Fake Farmer Stories
My husband and I have a small greenhouse business and also sell plants, cut flowers, and vegetables from local farmers’ markets. In a really small town market like ours, someone trying to pull a fast one is easily caught.
Over the years, we have only had two people try. One guy who felt he was very clever to have thought of this was another Boston commuter. He would stock up at the wholesale market on Friday and haul all manner of out-of-season stuff into the farmers’ market on Saturday morning. When asked, he told us all about it as if to say, “See how smart I am; I don’t know why everyone doesn’t do this.” He was gravely disappointed when we explained that this is not how a farmers’ market works.
The second fellow was not as honest, telling us he really did grow those melons and perfect tomatoes that were ripe in June. Every week, he would arrive in a big box truck with labeled boxes of produce. That alone was a big red flag! When the produce arrives in glitzy packaging, you can be sure it did not come from a local farm. A search of his “farm” on the internet turned up the fact that he was a vegetable wholesaler, a middleman, who supplied restaurants and schools. He was bringing us the weekly leftovers after his orders were filled. It was a struggle to oust him from our little market. Customers actually liked him and his produce, especially his cheap prices. But when we found that he had tried this same scam at other markets in the area and been asked to leave, he stopped coming.
Be on your toes, and don’t hesitate to ask questions if something or someone doesn’t seem quite right. If you are trying to help farmers in your community and want to keep your food dollars local, be sure to vet the vendors you do business with. Otherwise, you could be purchasing vegetables and fruit grown on a large industrial farm many miles from where you live—the same produce as you get in the grocery store.
Do you shop at farmers’ markets? Please share your experiences!
Also, if you do enjoy the fresh bounty, here are some Farmers’ Market Recipes to make the most of it!
Robin Sweetser
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I worked at a "Farmers Market" in Traverse City,MI where the owner buys eggs at costco then repackeges them with the markets name on them then sells them for double the cost. Also advertises "homemade" pie and baked goods and canned this and that, all just get made for them out of state. I really want my community to know the truth.
I am SO glad that you are educating people on this topic. Here in TN there are many markets where this sort of thing happens. Vendors who sell produce that they buy from Walmart the night before. It is simply fraud. It is hard to find a TRUE farmers market that both prohibits "reselling" and enforces "local producers only." The average shopper has no clue what should or should not be in season at any given time, so it's easy for unscrupulous vendors to take advantage of that." Education is so very important. Great job on this article.!
I too live in East Tennessee where we have local farmers and a great Saturday market in town. It’s grown in size but I fear all our vendors are NOT honest. I look at the hands of the farmer selling his produce. If his hands are smooth there’s no way I’d buy from him. I do ask questions and really put them on the spot. My husband and I do a small garden each year and I read a lot of articles on veggie and flowers so I know what is grown around our area.
My biggest peeve here in southern California is that what they call "farmers markets" - even using the word "certified" - are virtually nothing more than flea markets. There may (or may not, even) be a booth or two that sell produce, and some that sell hand crafted items, but the rest just sell junk. None in my area are worth the trip to ship for anything edible. I prefer to stop at a roadside stand where at least the signage tells you what it actually grown locally.
We have more trouble with the artisans bringing in cheap stuff made in China and passing it off as their own than we do dubious farmers. Unfresh produce is really easy to see with your eyes. We are less policing than the people in this article. If the vendor pays his/her/its dues and people want to buy what they have, it's okay with us. Usually the fakers leave after a week or two anyway.
One of my neighbors started growing peaches, planting more and more trees until he started selling them from his garage. He just puts up a sign in front of his house, right in town. And he's got a list of people who come back each year for a bushel or two.
Another neighbor sold baskets of tomatoes to local restaurants to help pay for the cost of watering, which had become pretty hefty. I find both of those alternatives to the "market" are also worth considering. As to how you tell the phonies--thanks for the tip. You're quite right.
Our farmer's market offers farm tours so we know who the local growers are. Very fun!
My son "experimented" growing veggies on our property deciding to attend a farmer's market. Prior to veggie's being available he grew micro greens. To avoid using plastic bags for packaging he sourced a plant based package that can be discarded into green bins.
They look like the clam shell type package so we have a notice at our booth which our customers comment on positively. All of the produce and greens that we sell is grown on our property.
Beware of bakers whose products are too uniform and too cheap. My husband and I were proud baker’s at various farmer’s markets..one for 22 years. Our customers got to know us and we were proud of our many compliments. We called the phonies “re-packers”. We used the best ingredients, produced in small batches. Quality shows, so does pride in your products.
