This week is National Farmers Market Week

The first full week in August is National Farmers Market Week, when in normal times--enough sun, water, and not too much heat--all types of crops should begin being ready for market.

So this year, it's August 1st - August 7th.

1.  During the pandemic year, many farmers markets still operated, but with capacity constraints and other social distancing requirements, to reduce contact between patrons.

2.  The pandemic showed how farmers markets often are more about "community building" than buying or selling food, even though for vendors, selling enough food to make a living is their primary concern.

Years ago, I wrote a piece, "The reason(s) why a farmers market is created shapes the type and mix of vendors allowed to sell," outlining the various reasons that communities have farmers markets, which should shape how they are organized and what they sell.  

Some markets only allow food to be sold that is grown by the vendor.  Others allow some consolidation, or farmers working together selling goods from multiple farms, thereby allowing them to reach more people while using less labor. In communities lacking supermarkets, I argue that markets ought to be allowed to sell foods not necessarily grown locally, because of the lack of sales options.

Steen's microgreens, Salt Lake.

3.  Comparing DC to cities like Salt Lake City and Baltimore, I've always thought the problem in DC has been too many markets.  Every neighborhood wants their own market, and many school PTAs sponsor truck farm sales on school grounds too.

DC had almost 60 farmers markets, some operating multiple days each week, before the pandemic.

What it means for the most part is that there are some anchor markets that are pretty good (Dupont Circle, Columbia Heights, Takoma Park) but most are underpowered.

By contrast, Salt Lake and Baltimore have a handful of markets, and for the most part each is a great event with a wide array of vendors.  The vendors sell a lot more too, making it worth their while ("For the first time since the pandemic began, Downtown Farmers Market reopens to its normal array of vendors — and crowds," Salt Lake Tribune).

For example, the Downtown Salt Lake Saturday Market, in my opinion, is one of the best in the nation, while the Baltimore Sunday Market and Saturday Market in Waverly are still probably better than the best farmers market in DC (but not as great as Salt Lake's).

4.  Then there are basic issues like "wayfinding," restrooms, marketing, etc.  

Again the Downtown Salt Lake Farmers Market is a stellar performer. As are the markets in DC run by FreshFARM/Community which merged a couple years ago.

5.  To sell more food, people need to know how to cook.  

Extension programs often have a presence at farmers markets, but aiming to integrate nutrition and cooking education at farmers markets ought to be a greater priority than it is at many markets.

In the Salt Lake area, the Harmon's sSupermarket chain has cooking schools at many of their stores, as does the much smaller Caputo's Deli.  Across the country, supermarkets, especially specialty stores but not just them, are incorporating cooking schools into their programs.  Many nonprofits do it too.  So do Sur La Table and Williams-Sonoma.

But not many public markets.  But some, such as the River Market in Little Rock and the Reading Terminal Public Market, have demonstration kitchens and cooking classes.