Fresh Produce Still Unaffordable

by Leigh Graham · 2009-10-31 09:00:00 UTC
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Where I live in Boston, farmers' markets abound in the summer and fall.  I stopped by the Allston Farmers' Market yesterday, where there were free samples of apple cider, pumpkin painting for the kids*, live music, and t-shirts for sale.  So nice!

This farmers' market is at a busy intersection, includes parking, is across the street from an affordable housing complex, and is on 2 bus lines.  It runs on Friday afternoons until 7pm, so feasibly working people can stop by on their way home.  So many conveniences.  Also nice.

I then spent $12.50 on 5 carrots, a pint of grape tomatoes, and 6 apples.  Not so nice.  $12.50???  Does this seem high to anyone else or is it just me?  (Granted, I did not buy the apples in bulk, which might have saved me some $$.)

I like supporting organic farms, local farms, local businesses, all that jazz.  It's important to me.  And I'm thrilled to see this farmers' market accepts EBT, WIC, etc.  But with those prices, why would the average low-income shopper part with their dollars there?  Can't I stretch my dollars a lot further at the grocery store, purchasing produce shipped in from CA and Mexico?  Can't I get more bang for my buck from canned and frozen foods?

I know, we have an entire blog about this here at Change.org and a weekly series on hunger, food and poverty on this blog.  But sometimes it's not until you hear "$9.80" for 6 apples and some grape tomatoes that you start to think twice about all the good ideas we're trying to push on society.

To end on a more positive note, this morning I donated pounds of fish to Haley House, courtesy of Greg's post on Ample Harvest.  Fresh frozen cod, whiting, flounder, shrimp and scallops - all the fish from a community-supported fishery  I was in this summer.  That felt a lot better.

*Happy Halloween!

(Photo of one of Boston's best known farmers' markets near Haymarket downtown by hydephine)

Leigh Graham
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