With the push for more local, organic food, the age-old question still remains, is it competitive, price-wise, to shop for fresh vegetables, fruits, herbs and other farm goods at the local farmer's markets compared to the chain grocery stores? Coupled with that question is are organic prices at the farmer's market and grocery store competitive as well.
Vermont's Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA-VT) studied this question last summer. Five interns visited nine farmer's markets and nine nearby grocery stores from July through early September. They recorded prices of twelve items at each location (blueberries, cantaloupe, corn, cucumbers, eggs, peppers, lettuce, potatoes, peas, string beans, squash, and tomatoes).
The results? Organic produce was much more common at farmer's markets (53% of all farmer's markets items observed were organic) than the grocery store (17% were organic). All the organic products except potatoes, were cheaper at the farmer's markets than grocery stores. For conventional produce the results were more varied. Only four of the conventional items were cheaper at farmer's markets with three others having price differences that were statistically insignificant.
This report only touches the tip of the iceberg of price differences at farmer's markets versus grocery stores for organic and conventional produce. With the advent of winter farmer's markets popping up everywhere, it would be interesting to do more research throughout the year.
To read the complete report, go to Vermont Farmer's Markets and Grocery Stores: A Price Comparison
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