05/02/07 Time For The Market

Time for the Market. I'm Greg Martin with today's Line On Agriculture. The farmers' market season is gearing up across the Pacific Northwest. According to the USDA's Marketing Survey there are nearly 45-hundred farmers markets nationwide and they have continued to rise in popularity over the years, mostly due to the growing consumer interest in obtaining fresh products directly from the farm. Most of Oregon's 88 markets, Washington's 97 and Idaho's 25 farmers markets are up and running this spring and will be offering fresh, locally-grown, and nutritious food all the way into the fall months, according to Laura Barton, trade manager with the Oregon Department of Agriculture. BARTON: If you just walk onto any farmers' market site, the whole marketplace is a big playground of nutrition. It offers, of course, fruits and vegetables which are just packed full of nutrition, both in terms of vitamins and fiber and all those wonderful things. A recent national survey shows four out of five American consumers are more concerned about nutrition than they were a year ago, and that they are more interested in knowing where their food comes from. Many Oregon farmers' markets will be participating in a couple of special programs that provide money to buy healthy foods: BARTON: What those programs do is allow low income, nutritionally-needy families and elderly citizens of Oregon to take the dollars they get to shop at a farmers' market or a farm stand to buy locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables. By the time a greater array of fresh fruits and vegetables are available, these special nutrition programs will be underway to help bring together consumers in need and nutritious foods at farmers' markets. Barton says the farm direct nutrition programs not only benefits the consumer in need, but is a good thing for the grower. BARTON: Many farmers are just so delighted to participate in the program because it makes them feel really good that these shoppers are able to buy their product and know that they are really needed. Barton says the number of farmers' markets in Oregon has grown to 88 this year, up from only 10 in the early 1990s: BARTON: There's obviously a hunger out there for people who enjoy really fresh food and like to see where the food comes from. To find a market in your area, check out the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service website. That's today's Line On Agriculture. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.