February 2021 - 12

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'My Farmer' has new emphasis for produce buyers
RON GOLDY
Michigan State University
My sister is a frequent customer at the
Ann Arbor, Michigan Farmer's Market.
Several years ago, we were talking
about her farmers' market experiences
and she used the phrase, " My Farmer "
to describe the person she generally
bought from. At the time I thought
that was interesting, and I have been
contemplating " My Farmer " ever since.
" My " is a word often used in front of
doctor, dentist, or for some, lawyer,
but I had never thought of using it in
conjunction with a farmer. However, I
have grown to like it.
To use " My " in front of an
occupational word implies a relationship
between those involved. For that
relationship to occur, the parties must
find it mutually beneficial or they would
not continue. Let's be realistic, there are
many other doctors, dentists, lawyers
and, yes, farmers out there, and if I
didn't trust the one I currently was doing
business with, I could switch. To stay
in a relationship also implies a certain
amount of trust has been developed.
Developing a personal relationship with the consumers that purchase your produce can pay dividends. Photo: North Market
I think it is the trust factor that most
intrigues me about being able to use the
phrase " My Farmer. " Agriculture has
changed substantially over the past 100
years to the point where currently fewer
than 2% of the population in the United
States is directly involved in agricultural
production. Most consumers have
little knowledge of how their food is
produced and how items appear in
fully stocked (usually) grocery store
shelves. With modern refrigeration,
transportation, and lifestyles,
production centers can be hundreds
of miles away or even on another
continent. Consumers can go weeks, if
not months, or even a lifetime without
driving by or visiting a farm. Movement
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12 | VegetableGrowersNews.com

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February 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of February 2021