Farming resembles a remote, high-tech industry more than gardening. Nor has the Green Revolution been an unqualified success for farmers themselves. Not only are farmers dependent on costly inputs such as fertiliser, hybrid seeds, pesticides and equipment. Instead of sniggering when French and Spanish peasants march on Brussels, pitchforks in hand, perhaps we should accept that farm policy is failing consumers and farmers equally. But American-style farmers markets have a fine reputation here, and with good reason.
Farmers markets are a low-cost, local and tangible response to farmers woes and consumers worries.
In the past 25 years, farmers markets have burgeoned in the US, increasing the consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables, renewing urban neighbourhoods and saving family farms. These markets are strictly defined. Farmers sell their own fruit and vegetables, eggs, cheeses, flowers, honey and other farm products directly to the public. No one may purchase produce for resale, and all farms must be within a defined regional area. Most markets occur weekly on a public site, such as a car park or school yard.