Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Peaches Never Tasted So...Expensive

By Pilar Oberwetter

Logically, local produce sold at farmer's markets in cities should promote healthy eating in step with reducing carbon footprints-- a win-win solution on all fronts. And like the organic movement, the push to grow and consume locally encourages awareness and advocacy to such a degree that some consider it to be a social movement of sorts-- which helps to justify the expectation of paying a slightly higher price.

Taking all this into consideration, I still cannot explain the $9.00 charge for 6 peaches at the Dupont Circle Sunday Market in the District of Columbia. It seems that all arguments fall apart when produce is brought into the city and priced at a level that makes them financially inaccessible for most city residents, regardless of a recent policy of allowing food stamps to be applied to farmer's market purchases.

And to add insult to injury, the dang things were not even organic.

1 comment:

Sonya Behnke said...

I totally feel for you on this one. I've found the trick with the Dupont market (because it is significantly larger than many other open markets in the city) is to take a deep breath and do a full lap through the market before making any purchases. Stands at the entry points of the market tend to be the most expensive and the general aura of sweaty chaos can propel the shopper to value speed above all else. I learned my lesson after dropping $9 on kale. Two weeks later after I worked me and my wallet out of that shame spiral I spend only $15 and got two full bags of organic, local goodies. It can be done.

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