Heading to the farmers market is one of the best ways to experience community, support our local economy, and enjoy all of the delicious offerings of summertime in Michigan. We typically go to the farmers market when we want answers to questions such as, where is my food grown? What kind of growing practices are used to grow my food? Or, is this the healthiest food that I can feed my family? The farmers market makes it a lot easier to get answers to these concerns. That being said, it can at times be difficult to determine exactly what you are getting at markets due to the terminology used to describe the food. When walking up and down the market stalls, you can see the terms “local,” “sustainable,” and “organic” used frequently. These terms have also infiltrated grocery stores, restaurants, and markets, and are becoming increasingly prevalent in our media. This is largely seen as a positive development indicating a shift in consciousness surrounding our eating habits. However seeing that there is a great deal of ambiguity around these terms, it can make purchasing food a difficult task. In order to clear up some of the confusion, let’s look at some of the most common terms used in our local markets.
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Local
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Despite there being very little consensus on what the term local actually means, marketers are constantly using locality as a selling point to entice customers. To some, local means that a product is coming from within 100 miles and to others that parameter is stretched to 250 miles. In many cases local simply means that the product is coming from Michigan, but can also include the entire Midwest region, and in some cases the entire United States. That being said, it is important as consumers for us to ask our grocer or farmer exactly what they mean when the say that their product is local. Learn more
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Sustainable
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Simply put by Wendell Berry, “A sustainable agriculture does not deplete soils or people.” To get a bit more specific, the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture explains that, “Sustainable agriculture addresses the ecological, economic and social aspects of agriculture. To be sustainable, agriculture can operate only when the environment, its caretakers and surrounding communities are healthy.” Although these principles are generally accepted as sustainable farming practices, it is important to note that there is no one definition for sustainable agriculture that everyone abides by. Sustainable is an extremely fluid term so again it is important to clarify with your grower or grocer what they mean when they use the term sustainable. Learn more
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Organic
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The USDA organic certification is a straightforward way for customers to identify which growers use pesticides and herbicides in their growing practices. The USDA has established organic standards that cover the product from farm to table, including soil and water quality, pest control, livestock practices, and rules for food additives. If a farmer applies for certification and proves that they adhere to these standards, the USDA will grant them organic certifcation. Although this certification makes it easier for consumers to identify exactly how their food is being grown, many growers opt not to become certified as USDA organic for a variety of different reasons. For an honest explanation of why organic certification is not for everyone, click here to read local grower Whitney Belprez’s take on the issue.
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100{6be771524f35e681d5eb1711abbe9ad08f29540a742404ae9fff00be7e8f65de} Home Grown
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In 2010, the Fulton Street Farmers Market created a certification called “100{6be771524f35e681d5eb1711abbe9ad08f29540a742404ae9fff00be7e8f65de} Homegrown” in order to certify and recognize farmers who only sell products that they have grown themselves. The motivation behind this certification was to make buying local easy for market-goers. This program gives customers the luxury of just looking for the green and yellow “home grown” sign to know where their food is coming from instead of having to ask each farmer. Learn more
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All this to say, it is clear that there is a lot of work to be done in establishing a common language for the food movement. Seeing that these terms are ambiguous, the best way to gain an honest understanding of where your food is grown and to understand how it is grown, you should have a conversation with your farmer and your grocer to understand what they mean when they use these terms. Most farmers value educating their consumer base so never be shy about asking questions!
