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You are here: Home / Politics / Domestic Politics / Market Glut

Market Glut

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This certainly is not a problem around here:

John Spineti started selling plump tomatoes and shiny squash at farmers’ markets in the early 1970s and saw his profits boom as markets became more popular. But just as farmers’ markets have become mainstream, Mr. Spineti said business has gone bust.

Farmers in pockets of the country say the number of farmers’ markets has outstripped demand, a consequence of a clamor for markets that are closer to customers and communities that want multiple markets.

Some farmers say small new markets have lured away loyal customers and cut into profits. Other farmers say they must add markets to their weekly rotation to earn the same money they did a few years ago, reducing their time in the field and adding employee hours.

“It’s a small pie — it’s too hard to cut it,” said Mr. Spineti, who owns Twin Oak Farms in nearby Agawam. Mr. Spineti, who was selling vegetables and small fig trees, his farm’s specialty, at the Wednesday market here, said his profits were down by a third to a half over the last few years.

Nationwide, the number of farmers’ markets has jumped to 7,175 as of Aug. 5; of those, 1,043 were established this year, according to the federal Agriculture Department. In 2005, there were 4,093 markets across the country.

Here in the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts, where hand-painted signs for fresh vegetables dot winding roads and eating local has long been a way of life, some farmers and market managers are uttering something once unfathomable: there are too many farmers’ markets.

I have to drive 40 minutes to get to a good market, and would love another one closer. Then again, I can get a lot of fresh local produce in other ways.

Reader Interactions

79Comments

  1. 1.

    Fucen Pneumatic Fuck Wrench Tarmal

    i’ve done the co-op share. i’ve done the farmers markets,the best product, and the best deal, is the guy who runs a produce bodega to appropriate a term, in an old now out of the way side street, that has a store front set up from the old days of the corner store.

    if you don’t know its there, you wouldn’t know its there.

    basically he goes and gets the produce in the strip district when it comes in in the morning, or has the local farmers come to him.

  2. 2.

    Shlemizel - was Alwhite

    We have a small one 5 minutes from here every Saturday; almost all Hmong farmers (MN has the largest Vietnamese immigrant community in the US) that always has a great selection of fresh produce. A 10 minute drive gets us to the Minneapolis Farmers Market which runs every day of the week & has a very large selection of great stuff. My only complaint is they do allow a couple of crap stalls that sell bananas, pineapples & shipped in vegetables at prices higher than the local grocery stores.

    I have not noticed a decline in prices though despite the improved number of choices.

  5. 5.

    Villago Delenda Est

    Well, what will happen here is that with a glut of markets (and goods) prices WILL go down. At some point, some growers will get out of the markets because they can’t cover costs, and then, viola, the supply will go down and prices will rebound.

    Then the whole thing will start again with new players.

  6. 6.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    We have one thriving local market here in my area but by my experience it tends to fizzle out as the season progresses. In the spring there is no end to the amount of produce that you can buy but come this time of year it tends to be honey/bee products/eggs vendors and a couple of tomatoes, squash and peppers vendors. Tomatoes and peppers I am growing myself so I am limited to what I can buy to organic free range eggs (and don’t get me wrong I LOVE me some organic free range eggs). We had a local hydroponic guy for a while who offered fresh lettuce in the middle of the summer (a rarity around here) and I would eagerly buy those but he seems to have gone by the wayside of late. However, I suppose the good news in this story is that people are actively seeking out locally grown food to the extent that they are demanding locally grown almost on their doorstep. That is a good sign that people are rejecting the “grown in somewhereelse” produce in the grocery stores.

  7. 7.

    jharp

    Not the case around here neither. We still have too few. Far too few. Indianapolis.

    I do think this is good example of the invisible hand of the market will take care of things.

    And you’d better not be hauling your produce very far or you will get your ass handed to you.

  9. 9.

    Ron

    We have one in town here and several others in the area. I love going to our farmers’ market. In fact just tonight I used some tomato, some onion, some zucchini, and some eggplant bought at our farmers’ market to make some ratatouille.

  10. 10.

    Anne Laurie

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    Aren’t most of the Hmong in the US from Laos?

    Way it was explained to me, the Hmong are from the mountains, which are where the Hmong have always been, since before forever & outsiders with surveyors equipment. The Hmong mountains are mostly in what we outsiders now call “Laos”, but the Hmong people have been translocated to America because the CIA persuaded them to provide assistance during our war against Vietnam. So they were introduced to Lowell/Minneapolis/San Diego/Louisiana as “refugees from Vietnam”, and the Cambodian immigrant communities they tend to abut refer to them as “Laotians” (the Cambodians are not particularly fond of Laotians, it would seem) but the Hmong do not usually have any particular nostalgia for either of those nation-states…

  11. 11.

    Mnemosyne

    So it seems there’s a glut of farmers’ markets in urban (or at least suburban) areas and not enough in more rural areas?

    Not really “stop the presses” news, IMO.

    ETA: But, then, I’m feeling particularly bitchy today, so YMMV.

  12. 12.

    Ohio Mom

    Cincinnati is definitely reaching farmers’ marker saturation — and this list is not complete, I can think of four markets just in my part of town that aren’t on this map:

    http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=211675224399954431747.0004a73c9949d6937b8aa&msa=0

    Some of these markets, particularly the newer ones, only have a handful of tables, and don’t seem to attract many customers. I’ve been thinking for a while now that this can’t sustain itself, so the article in the Times didn’t surprise me.

  13. 13.

    MattF

    This is, kinda, happening in my neck of the woods. The older hippie-dippie farmer’s markets and co-ops are being squeezed by newer ‘curated’ markets that include things like artisanal cheeses, chocolates, small wineries and various local specialty retailers along with the usual vegetable and berry farmers. The new markets are attracting more customers, so the farmers who would have gone to the older markets now have to choose where to go.

  14. 14.

    VidaLoca

    Here (Milwaukee) the farmers’ markets seem to be popping up everywhere. My perception is that local non-farm small businesspeople realize that the markets are a good way to pull people into neighborhood shopping districts, which then will rebound to their benefit in increased foot traffic. So they push for them. So they proliferate.

    Anyhow. I went to the biggest and longest-established (at least to my knowledge) of the markets yesterday afternoon. And it was wall-to-wall people. Well up into the hundreds. No parking for blocks. Dozens of vendors. Each of whom had brought a truckload of sweet corn. And I swear you never saw so much corn being sold, outside of a feed mill. And tomatoes, and peppers, and melons. And on, and on. You name it, they had it.

    So I paid $32 for two half chickens and 4 brats. 32 fucking dollars. For a chicken. I must have been high. And I just got done eating one of the brats and some of the chicken and a bunch of corn, and some melon too. And it was all reaaaaly good. You can’t beat those free-range brats. But still. I can’t see a lot of evidence that the suppliers have exceeded the demand here yet and as long as there are idiots like me on the loose they don’t have too much to fear.

    $32. Jesus. For a chicken.

  15. 15.

    Anne Laurie

    To get back on topic, more or less: The Pioneer Valley may have a glut of farmers markets, but the ones here in the high-population-density eastern side of the state seem to be doing just fine. And there’s a longstanding agitation that it would be great to have fresh local produce more available in the poverty-stricken, immigrant-heavy “center”, in Springfield or Worcester, but the suppliers “don’t want to travel that far” and/or “aren’t going to risk their lives in urban gang territory” — the arguments tend to be used interchangeably.

    Which is quite understandable, since it’s a low-margin business, so individual farmers don’t have sufficient incentive to risk the fuel & time when they don’t have a guaranteed market and they feel (correctly or not) that there’s even a small chance of personal injury. There have been initiatives to set up “co-ops” where a group of Pioneer Valley farms would pool their produce and rotate weekly trips into the urban center, if the city managers were willing to provide a suitable venue. But I haven’t seen anything in the local news beyond wouldn’t-it-be-nice stories; the cities are beyond broke & busy dealing with the usual array of ‘more important’ problems, and the farmers are too politically atomized to push from their end. Of course, some version of this would be an excellent job-creating, green initiative if a national agency were looking for a pilot program, as though there were any chance of that happening in our broken political system…

  16. 16.

    Ozymandias, King of Ants

    This doesn’t seem like a problem here in Stockton, CA.

    We have Saturday and Sunday farmer’s markets that run year round. During the summer, other days fill up with markets in various locations around town, either sponsored by the local Certified Farmer’s Market Association or organizations like Kaiser Permanente [sic!]. And at all of them, the prices are lower than in the grocery stores.

    All of them are easily accessible by walking/public transit for a disabled person like myself.

    Just my li’l bit o’ anecdata.

  17. 17.

    Yutsano

    There have been several long-established ones in the Seattle area for awhile one of which turned into a landmark and you can officially blame it for Starbucks. AFAIK there isn’t much else happening unless they’re growing in the burbs. Which wouldn’t surprise me.

  18. 18.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @Anne Laurie: For the record, the majority of the Hmong in the US are from Laos. Originally they lived in China but were driven out and ended up in the hills of Southeast Asia. Those who made it to the US have a documented record of service alongside US forces (either CIA paramilitary or SF). FWIW Wausau, WI, where I am from, went from approximately 98% white in 1980 to over 11% Asian in 2000. Mixed in among the primarily Hmong refugees, however, there also were a significant number of Lao (frequently urban lowlanders who identify as Lao and tend to view the Hmong as backward hillbillies). My mother was an ESL teacher working with SE Asian students and my family became very involved in working with the community over the years.

  19. 19.

    Derf

    Let’s see. Cole is talking about gardens and shit. Hmmmm, must be something going on in the world he was WRONG about….AGAIN! Now what could that be….hmmmmmm.

  20. 20.

    geg6

    No gluts here, either. Most of the small river towns here in Beaver County have farmer’s markets, but they are localized and many have unique products. The one down the street in Monaca has a local cheese maker and local beef in addition to the fabulous veggies. I love it.

  21. 21.

    Dream On

    I don’t know, I live near a really good grocery store in North Seattle, and outside of the people-watching experience, there are so many farmer’s markets in Seattle these days that I can’t really get excited. Because most importantly, the prices don’t seem any cheaper than my grocery store. And in most cases, it doesn’t seem fresher. They get their vegetables from Skagit county the same day as the grocery store, along the same highway.

    So for grumbly me, I’ll stick with Central Market.

  22. 22.

    Ozymandias, King of Ants

    @Anne Laurie:

    but the suppliers “don’t want to travel that far” and/or “aren’t going to risk their lives in urban gang territory”—the arguments tend to be used interchangeably.

    Interesting. Around here, the suppliers are the immigrants. They either rent or buy relatively small plots of land and set up truck farms.

  24. 24.

    jnfr

    We’re still searching for a good farmer’s market near us, without having to drive up to Boulder. The local ones mainly seem to sell commercial produce and random craftsy things. I have no glut.

  26. 26.

    Derf

    Wait for it. As soon as CNN has the rebels parading Gaddafi’s head on a stick in the center square of Tripoli, Cole will post something about what his dog puked up today and attach pictures of half eaten plates of food. I’ll take bets on it.

  27. 27.

    Shlemizel - was Alwhite

    @Anne Laurie:

    Thats pretty much it but I would add one more thing from my experience: pretty much everyone in the region hate the Hmong. I’d compare their treatment to that shown the Kurds in the Middle East. Treated like dirt.

  31. 31.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @Derf: Hey dipshit, have you noticed the multiple threads about Libya on this very blog? You might find people posting about and discussing Libya on those threads.

  32. 32.

    Roger Moore

    @Shlemizel – was Alwhite:

    My only complaint is they do allow a couple of crap stalls that sell bananas, pineapples & shipped in vegetables at prices higher than the local grocery stores.

    I’ve noticed that a lot of the “farmers markets” around here tend to fill up with every kind of crap. It’s as if people see farmers markets as a hippie thing and assume that they’ll be a great place to sell hippie-associated items. You wind up with tons of lousy jewelry, tie-dye, homeopathic remedies, aromatherapy items, etc. to the point it starts to crowd out the actual farmers.

  36. 36.

    Jane2

    @VidaLoca: I paid 26 bucks for tasteless, spongy textured boneless chicken breasts at Costco. I’d rather pay more and eat less and enjoy it…count me in for local meat.

    As for too many farmers’ markets, maybe in urban areas, or where NYTimes reporters dare to go, but certainly not in most of the country.

  37. 37.

    Jane2

    @Derf: Oh please. I can post about farmers’ markets while listneing to Livestation in another tab, and I’m sure John can as well.

  41. 41.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @Raven (formerly stuckinred): Montagnard is, of course, the French term for people who live in the mountains. Actually, there were Hmong among the Vietnamese montagnards; and, in Laos, there were doing the same things. Scary tough little fuckers. A few years ago, I was mugged in Columbus, Ohio, and one of my father’s Lao friends who had been a Lao SF captain (came up through the enlisted ranks) wanted me to let him know the names of the three guys who mugged me if they were ever caught. He was going to make some calls to the Lao community in Columbus and have the guys “taken care of.” I made a mental note not it ever let him know.

  42. 42.

    Derf

    @Roger Moore: I my most fanatical groupie. Gonna have to get a restraining order if you don’t calm down Roger. Just relax. Plenty more posts coming for you to obsess about.

  46. 46.

    ErinSiobhan

    Farmers’ markets are a weird thing. If you are lucky, you have a great one but a lot of them are useless. Our local market is the real deal – all local, only seasonal, and you don’t really know from week to week who will show up.

    Once I made the mistake of going to the city farmers’ market and it was horrible. Overpriced produce and meat. Lots of mediocre artisanal stuff. Blech.

    I think it’s hard to have good markets in really big cities. Montreal is the exception – Atwater and Jean Talon are great. And there are a lot of neighbourhood green grocers that are very good.

  47. 47.

    Walker

    I live in the freaking Finger Lakes, and our farmer’s markets are these pieces of crap that sell tchotchkes instead of actual food. In fact, if you want anything good, you essentially need to drive to the farm (which often has an adjacent store).

  48. 48.

    Raven (formerly stuckinred)

    @jeffreyw: I’m about to fade. Early morning triathalon swim and a catfish fry for 50 this afternoon has my ass draggin. Keep these puppies in line!

  52. 52.

    WaterGirl

    @jeffreyw: Fun photos. They banned dogs from our farmer’s market this year. :-( Nice to see the round black watermelons – the people who used to sell those at our market sold out to someone else this year, and no one has those. Too bad I already used my frown-y face (above). I could use one here for the no watermelons.

    Hey, saw your response yesterday, late. The homer & buddy photo is the one where homer is nuzzling buddy’s muzzle.

  53. 53.

    Cat Lady

    @Derf:

    Arrived in Oak Bluffs, at Nancy’s, at 7:45 pm, met by crowd of hundreds outside, chanting “Four more years! Four more years!”

    These are my people.

    /Masshole and Obot

  56. 56.

    Suffern ACE

    Hmmm. Well since this is a farmer’s market thread, I just have to state that I went to one today and came away with some very delicious finnish rye bread which is making me giddy at the moment, even if I shouldn’t be eating grains after 8.

  57. 57.

    PurpleGirl

    One of the oldest of the farmers’ markets in NYC is at Union Square — it’s has lots of vendors, lots of people travel to get there. I’ve not noticed the prices to be much cheaper than at a grocery store. They’ve started many more markets around the city, but many of these are really small and don’t have much in the way of produce. At this point I prefer to shop at Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s and a few veggie stores for the best I can get.

  58. 58.

    Lyrebird

    @Jane2: @Mnemosyne: I’ll agree that this is not exactly hot news; I’m also guessing you guys have not visited Agawam? Pioneer Valley has a few big towns in it, but it’s also some of the longest-farmed open-farm territory in the East (e.g. Hadley, MA). It’s pretty, too! And rural.

    Peace all…

  59. 59.

    H.E. Pennypacker, Wealthy Industrialist

    John, have you looked into whether you have CSA’s in your local vicinity? We’re in coastside Northern California and love ours.

  61. 61.

    bmaccnm

    @Derf: What the fuck is your problem? You’re not even a good troll. You come here all pissy-pants, “Wah wah. Cole’s not talking about what I want him to talk about.” As others more cogent than I have said, Start your own fucking blog. I like garden talk. I like dog talk. I like political talk. Life is more than your biotch. go away and blaze your own trail.

  62. 62.

    Yutsano

    @bmaccnm: Stop. Feeding. It. Every time you respond to one of its little hissy fits it just comes back tenfold. Ignore it or pie it.

    (And I’m guilty of doing this as well. But I stopped.)

  64. 64.

    Jared

    When Cole does a libya thread, I predict 500 comments minimum. Unless he wimps out by doing it at 4am or just posting a link without comment. He wouldn’t do that would he? I for one am concerned.

  66. 66.

    Joel

    Tons of farmers markets in Seattle, and the big two (Ballard and University District) are always packed. Some of the peripheral ones do badly but of course if it’s not worth the time to set up at those, they won’t last.

  67. 67.

    Yutsano

    @Omnes Omnibus: I know. My impulse control is not always the best, as more than one Dawg has pointed out. On the other hand lack of it got me a job as an ebil gubmint agent, so there you go.

  69. 69.

    pjcamp

    My farmer’s market is mostly not farmers. It is people who drop by the farm to pick up something to sell on the way to the market. Often, they end up buying the same crappy tomatoes they strip mine down in Florida that you can find in your local grocer. The farmer’s market is at least half mirage.

  71. 71.

    Constance

    Is there any way to get those two to take their meds? The escalation of their psychosis alarms me.

    We have two farmer’s markets with a good selection of local organic in both as well as grass fed beef, local ham and bacon, honey. And the folks from the next state who bring in supermarket fare. I’ve even seen Dole stickers on fruit.

  73. 73.

    Cliff in NH

    farmer lady is too old, she is selling tomatoes and big videlia onions for 25 cents each, not weighed, EACH. that onion cost over a $1.25 at the local store – on sale.

    Don’t ask about the tomatoes.

  75. 75.

    Mnemosyne

    @jeffreyw:

    Was Bitsy the one who didn’t get along with the dogs, or am I confusing kittehs?

    It doesn’t matter what Homer thinks of her, though: Bitsy is a calico. She will rule him with an iron fist within weeks. He should thank his lucky stars that she’s not a tortoiseshell or he’d really be in trouble.

  76. 76.

    Pat In Massachusetts

    It has also been a bumper crop season in Massachusetts. I’ve put up eleven 1/2 pints of tomatoes already from my small background garden patch. Usually I am visiting my local farmer’s market by now for tomatoes to preserve. I haven’t had the need yet, but there is always September!

    Please, oh please! I never want to hear there are too many farmer’s markets!

  78. 78.

    Minneapolis Farmers Market

    @Shlemizel – was Alwhite:
    We are the only farmers market in Minneapolis run by farmers- we have 200 grower-members and 3 resellers, and we believe in healthy food for all. As the only source of healthy food in a food desert, we serve as green grocer for North Minneapolis – and we are glad to provide global produce (bananas, pineapples, mangoes) to people who would otherwise be unable to get them. Over 500 households now use EBT (supplemental food benefits) here.

  79. 79.

    low-tech cyclist

    North Beach, MD, which is around the corner from where I live, started a farmers’ market on Friday evenings a few years back. While there are other farmers’ markets within a half hour’s drive (and tons of roadside stands much closer), there are more people at the NB farmers’ market every year, and I don’t see the folks at the roadside stands just twiddling their thumbs, either – they’ve always got people stopping and buying.

    I think around here, they’re all still cutting into the grocery chains’ produce business, so there are enough new customers for everybody to grow. Except the grocery stores, that is. :-)

    ‘Scuse me, but I think it’s time to eat another of those peaches I bought last Friday. This year’s peaches have been absofuckinglutely wonderful. Thank you, Harris Orchards!

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