State, county, and city governments supported the development of these new markets. Expanding interest by consumers in shopping at farmers markets is a nationwide trend, as reflected in the number of markets increasing by 20 percent between 1992 and 1994. Such markets provide the infrastructure needed to facilitate the sale of locally grown products to local consumers. The government entities benefit because of the generation of economic activity. Consumers benefit because they have another choice regarding the source of the vegetables they desire to consume.
Growers benefit because they have a place they can take products to sell.
Sequential timing of production and the production of several vegetables permit these growers to spread both their production effort and their marketing activity over a fairly long season beginning in early spring and continuing until the killing frosts in the fall. The difficulties associated with dealing with numerous growers, and the influence of the aggregate economic forces inherent in adjustments caused by shifts in comparative advantage, contributed to the change. Processors must handle large volumes over an extended period of time to be able to attain the economies of scale necessary for them to survive in the highly competitive processing market. When asked about their willingness to use local products, processors usually indicate that they are willing if the quality, volume per delivery, and timing conditions are satisfied. However, many growers are discouraged by the low prices processors are willing to pay, which are the same prices the processors pay for supplies from other regions.