Do you know who your farmer is?

Most of us search the internet or ask others to find out about the best restaurants, doctors, mechanics, or hair stylists are in our area; however, have you ever researched or asked about the best produce farmers in your area? It is strange that we know so little about the people that grow our produce and how carefully we chose other details in our life. We are used to the year-round variety of fruits and vegetables from all over the world in our grocery stores and there is a disconnect between the consumer and the produce farmer.

A few years ago, we didn't really think about where our food came from, but now that we are farming it is hard not to think about it! For us, there have been several things that changed this disconnect. Becoming a part of the organic trend has brought attention to importance of healthy growing practices of the farmers that deliver produce to the grocery stores. The label "organic" gives us insight into how our produce is grown, but not necessarily who grows it. The trend to "eat local" has also helped us connect to  local farmers by going to farmer's markets or participating in a CSA (community supported agriculture). There is something truly enjoyable about meeting the farmers that grow our produce and hearing their stories!

Recently, Damian and I were able to sell our produce through a local market called Sappington Farmer's Market and participate in one of their "Meet Your Farmers" event on a Sunday afternoon. We stood by our produce and talked to customers as they came into the store. We really enjoyed spending time at the event and meeting customers. We have never talked about lettuce and kale so much in our lives. There was quite an age range in customers and we were impressed by the individuals who felt that organic and local produce was important. We also were impressed by the variety of people who told us about the fun dishes they create with local produce - from kale chips to delicious sounding salads and soups. For us, it is not just about knowing who our farmer is. It is also about knowing who our customer is and knowing that they enjoy fresh vegetables as much as we do.