Controversy and conspiracy are running wild as the Federal government comes closer to passing the Food Safety Modernization bill. Small growers, farmers market patrons and even people on the street are outraged that the government is trying to regulate Grandma selling tomatoes from her garden at a local market. Websites railing against the bill and email petitions are popping up all over the digital ether and yet the bill is almost a law. Calmer heads are saying that the effect on small growers will be nothing more than a bit of paperwork to register your farm and a headache if an inspector comes to visit. But here at the Weeping Radish we are buried in paperwork and inspectors and this “headache” was enough for me to sign one of those numerous petitions. Currently we are being inspected by over a dozen agencies. This is a staggering number, but each agency feels that they are protecting people from some aspect of our business that might harm the general public. And that got me thinking. USDA inspectors have basically moved in to our building because there was an infection at a massive processing plant, the county health inspector checks our restaurant because someone got food poisoning from another restaurant, even the Department of Natural Resources investigated our compost pile to make sure it wasn’t affecting water quality. So what has happened at farmer’s markets to warrant this kind of bill? We stumbled across the answer to this question without even realizing it at the time

This summer we have absolutely loved attending a local farmer’s market. There were two large farms supplying vegetables, one organic and one non-organic, and we presumed they were selling produce from their own farms. As we were preparing for a larger market event the organizers came to us and asked how our farm had fared given the recent weather changes. They wanted us to bring as many vegetables as possible because their larger vendors had weather related shortages and their other suppliers were short as well. This floored us. We would never dream of bringing other people’s sausages to market or even offering organic vegetables from another farm.

Please correct me if I’m mistaken, but isn’t the point of a farmer’s market to buy fresh produce and support local farmers? Shouldn’t I be offended if a farmer is selling me vegetables without telling me that they aren’t his?  Shouldn’t I be as angry as the people who got E. Coli from peanut butter or food poisoning from a restaurant? Shouldn’t I demand some kind of oversight for farmer’s markets?
Farmer’s markets are a thriving grassroots movement, a place where people come together to talk, laugh, and embrace a healthier way of eating, and the last thing they need is an inspector and paperwork to slow them down. They have regulated themselves for years, but it seems standards have been dropped as farmers/vendors chase the almighty dollar. The economy is tough and I understand the need to increase sales, but at least be honest about it. Tell me where the vegetables come from and let me decide if where they’re grown is as important as organic certification.

The misdeeds of a few have resulted in the government restricting the free trade of farmer’s markets.  Cynics will say that big business is solely behind this movement to create a monopoly on the markets. However, it all goes back to the individual who cheated the system, which caused the regulations, which were sponsored by “Big Business” and results in massive regulatory burdens that kill small businesses. One of the largest attractions of a farmer’s market is the personal connection with the growers and faith in what they are producing. If a farmer breaks that trust by not disclosing the truth about his products, then you may as well buy organic vegetables from Argentina at Wal-Mart.