OOCLO Reflection 2

Supporting Local Farmers and Vendors is

Important

Reflection on Civic Growth

 What I Did

            The OOCLO I took part in this week was the visit to the St. Catharines Farmer’s Market downtown. 

            By taking part in this OOCLO, I was able to spend an afternoon exploring the farmer’s market and all it has to offer.  I was overwhelmed at the assortment of foods and trinkets that could be purchased here.  There were all kinds of fresh vegetables, fresh baked breads, homemade cheeses and cured meats, Greek food, Lebanese food, Mexican food, fair trade coffees and teas, fresh cut and potted flowers, and even jewelry.

            The person I got to speak with the most was the Greek food vendor, as I am Greek and thought that it would be a good way to start up conversation.  We got talking about where in Greece we are from, and I eventually asked him what brought him to be selling food at a market.  He said that he had a restaurant that closed down because they weren’t getting enough business.  Now he is working at the farmer’s market so that he is able to do what he loves and put his skills to use.  He loves what he does, but he says that business still isn’t great and he fears not being able to continue for much longer if the current trend continues.  He says that people seem to prefer to go to well-known restaurants rather than eat at the farmer’s market.  He was disappointed that people would rather eat hastily prepared food, rather than the homemade small-batch food he was offering.  His prices were quite reasonable, with a large bowl of soup being $2.50 and a soup and falafel sandwich combo at $5.00.  The prices were much cheaper than someone would pay at a sit-down restaurant, yet unfortunately people prefer to eat at the big-name places.

            Some of the vendors were people not much older than myself and were trying to start up their own business and gain popularity.  Others were quite old and selling items at the farmer’s market was their sole income.  They did all the work themselves, from growing the vegetables to baking the delicious breads.  By getting the chance to speak to some of the vendors, I realized what an impact selling their items really has on their lives.  This experience really made me realize that when most people go to a supermarket to buy their products, they could just as easily go to the downtown market and support the local vendors.  The products are fresh, reasonably priced, and there is a great variety.  By supporting our local vendors we will be supporting our local farmers which will in turn boost our economy. 

           The farmer’s market visit was a great experience.  I learned a lot about the politics of the food industry and how bad the local market really is.  This information was graciously shared with me by the vendors, who are offering great products that more people should purchase.

What I Have Been Asking Myself

I have been wondering why more people don't shop at the local farmer's market.  The produce is much fresher than that purchased at a big chain grocery store, and therefore much healthier.  People spend so much money on frivolous things like cigarettes and fast food, and then we wonder why cancer and heart disease rates are so high.  Why don't these people take some initiative and support local farmers while at the same time getting healthier and having a better quality of life?  Everyone is complaining that there is no work because of the recession, but don't they realize that they themselves are furthering the problem by buying imported goods? 

What I Learned

I learned that people have the power to change the financial situation of their city.  By buying local goods, they are helping employ farmers, farm-equipment salesman, transport truck operators, cashiers, store owners, and others, all within their local community.  If we all did this, we could turn the state of our country around.

True, the produce at the farmer’s market is a bit more expensive than the big-box retailers that we are used to, but the vendors must charge more, because they are doing all the work to produce the products. The big-box stores import everything made cheaply in other countries, while paying unfair wages to their workers.  If we and pay the extra money to support our local growers, eventually they will have so much business that they may be able to lower their prices.  If this happens, then everyone will win- we will be getting great, wholesome, fresh local produce, and the local farmers and vendors will be making a decent living once again.

I learned this when I visited the farmer's market and saw all the goods offered.  The produce is fresher, and the homemade jewelery pieces are one of a kind and beautiful.  Most people would be thrilled to have something so unique to wear.  The items available at the farmer's market are vast and one can do most of their grocery shopping in one place.



This learning matters because only we have the power to help ourselves and most people don't realize it.  The only way to dig ourselves out of this recession, and prevent another one, is to buy local and support the farmer’s market vendors.  A recent article in the Ottawa Citizen newspaper states that “if every household spent $10 a week on local food, 10,000 jobs could be created (Ron Eade, Ottawa Citizen, September 15, 2011.)   This is a huge number of jobs that are just waiting to be created, but we must take the steps needed to make it happen.  Our local farmers are dependent on our committment to buying local. 

In light of this learning, I have made an extremely conscious effort to do as much shopping as I can at my local farmer's market, and support the local growers.  I have been buying produce from as local as is available.  It's important to know that there is hope for our economy out there.