by CFSA | Last updated Monday, March 8, 2021 –
Local and organic farmers strive to grow food sustainably in order to protect our natural resources while providing the freshest and most nutritious products possible.
Numerous ecological growing techniques exist under the umbrella of the sustainable agriculture movement. Each farmer utilizes the techniques that best suit their land, products, markets, lifestyles, and beliefs. Educate yourself! If you have any questions regarding how or why certain methods are employed, ask your local farmer.
But before we get too specific, let’s set the tone. If you are at a farmers market, the biggest thing you should ask a farmer is if they have time to answer a few questions. Be considerate of other patrons, lines, and the farmer’s time. If there are long lines, come back when it’s slower.
Below are questions to get the conversation started between you and your farmer.
Here’s the short version:
- General (jump to the whys below)
- Where is your farm located?
- Do you grow all the products that you sell?
- What growing practices do you use?
- Vegetables & Fruits (jump to the whys below)
- When was this harvested?
- How do you deal with your weeds? Insects? Diseases?
- Do you have any recipe suggestions on how to prepare this?
- How many crops do you grow on the farm?
- Meat & Eggs (jump to the whys below)
- Are your animals fed an organic or non-GMO feed?
- Is your livestock given hormones or antibiotics?
- What is the diet of your animals? Is your beef and lamb 100% grass-fed, grass-finished, grain-finished, or mostly grain-fed?
- Do you process your poultry on-farm?
- Value-Added Goods (jump to the whys below)
(jams, honey, fermented foods, baked goods, canned goods, etc.):
- Do you grow all your raw ingredients?
- If not, where do you get your supplemental ingredients? Are they produced locally? Organically?
- How do you prepare, store, and cook your products?
- Do you grow all your raw ingredients?
Need more info? Tips on what to listen for? Here’s the longer version:
GENERAL
Where is your farm located?
Learn how local the farmer is to your area.
Be considerate of other patrons, lines, and the farmer’s time. If there are long lines, come back when it’s slower.
Do you grow all the products that you sell?
This is an important question to ask, as some markets are producer-only, meaning the items for sale were grown/raised by the farmers selling them. Markets that aren’t producer-only may be reselling items they purchased from other farmers.
What’s in season varies depending on where you’re located. Know what grows in your area and when, so you can support local growers.
What growing practices do you use?
This is a great time to learn if the farm has certifications that explain their growing practices—e.g., USDA Organic, Appalachian Grown, Certified Naturally Grown.
VEGETABLES & FRUITS
When was this harvested?
If it’s not a storage crop (things like onions, garlic, sweet potatoes, winter squash, cabbages, etc.), then its harvest date may indicate how fresh it is and how long it may last for you. By in large, the fresher it is, the more nutrients it has and the better it will taste.
If you want to get nerdier with ideal times to eat produce, Jo Robinson, who wrote Eating on the Wild Side, goes into great detail on this.
How do you deal with your weeds? Insects? Diseases?
This question may invite a more technical response than what the average person may be ready for! It’s best to be clear in what you’re wanting to know–do they use any synthetic sprays? Only treat on an as-needed basis?
Certain certifications may indicate what you’re looking for, so do some reading up on certifications farmers display on their websites or at market (see What kind of growing practices do you use? above) and what they mean.
For example, if a farm is certified organic, then you know it will not use any prohibited substances applied for at least three years prior to harvest. Prohibited substances include most synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, sprays, and herbicides. But we could do a whole series on what organic means! The USDA has a nice Organic 101 post that gives you the basic gist.
Do you have any recipe suggestions on how to prepare this?
Farmers know their products, so chances are they’ve prepared whatever you’re asking about a number of times! They’ll likely have tips on the best ways to prepare certain vegetables, including which ones may have a certain flavor profile (e.g., bitter, sweet, sour).
How many crops do you grow on the farm?
Whether it’s a one-acre farm or a 50-acre farm, one with a large variety can be an indicator of sustainable methods. Generally, a farm with several crops is more likely to use crop rotation, which helps to bolster soil health, reduce erosion, increase biodiversity, and so much more!
To be clear, there’s no magic number to listen for. The scale should match the acreage; it’s a lot harder for that one-acre operation to fit as many crops as a 50-acre farm can.
MEAT & EGGS – more info coming soon!
Don’t miss: 5 Things Your Protein Farmer Wants You to Know About Pasture-Raised Food
Are your animals fed organic or non-GMO feed?
Is your livestock given hormones or antibiotics?
What is the diet of your animals? Are your beef and lamb 100% grass-fed, grass-finished, grain-finished, or mostly grain-fed?
Do you process your poultry on-farm?
VALUE-ADDED GOODS
(jams, honey, fermented foods, baked goods, canned goods, etc.):
Do you grow all your raw ingredients?
- If not, where do you get your supplemental ingredients? Are they produced locally? Organically?
How do you prepare, store, and cook your products?
If you enjoyed this post, don’t miss Questions to Ask Before Buying a CSA Share. And know we couldn’t do this work without your support! Help power CFSA’s consumer education today.