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Are Farmers' Market Farmers Growing Everything They Sell?
Farmers' markets are growing like weeds in California, with 719 certified statewide and more than 300 in LA, Orange and Ventura Counties. Participating farmers are supposed to sell fresh produce they grow themselves, but not everybody obeys the rules. With state and local agricultural agencies short of resources, some markets try to police themselves. How's that working out? Why are farmers' markets so popular in the first place? On our rebroadcast of To the Point, does the world face another food crisis?
By Warren Olney • • 52m ListenFarmers' markets are growing like weeds in California, with 719 certified statewide and more than 300 in LA, Orange and Ventura Counties. Participating farmers are supposed to sell fresh produce they grow themselves, sometimes without chemicals. However not everybody obeys the rules. With state and local agricultural agencies short of resources, some markets try to police themselves. We look at how that's working out and ask why farmers' markets are so popular in the first place. On our rebroadcast of today's To the Point, drought, economic speculation and climate change are threatening a worldwide food shortage, and the UN is warning about food riots like those of two years ago. We ask if a distribution system dominated by US agri-business needs to be overhauled.
Banner image of root vegetables at Santa Monica Farmers' Market: Muy Yum
In this episode
2 storiesFarmers' Markets: Do You Get What You Think You're Paying For?
KCRW producer Christian Bordal has been looking into the growing profusion of farmers' markets, why they're so popular and how customers can be sure they're getting the right kind of produce.
Read the story27 minOur Unsustainable Table: Another Global Food Crisis?
In 2008, a combination of natural events and economic conditions drove food prices so high that food riots erupted in many parts of the world. This year, there's concern that the same thing may be happening again. But the ravages of 2008 aren't yet over.
Read the story26 min
