More Than a Meal: Why Knowing Your Farmer Matters

The recent Cyclospora outbreak is an important reminder that where our food comes from matters.

While no food system is completely immune to foodborne illness, farmers markets offer an increasingly valuable connection to the people who grow your food. At a time when many people are asking important questions about food safety, that connection matters. You can ask where your food came from, how it was grown, and how it was handled.

I stopped by Cohesive Farm‘s booth at the PSU Farmers Market to talk with owner and operator Randy about produce safety. Before becoming a farmer, Randy worked as a food safety inspector while earning his doctorate degree in plant physiology (yes, he’s literally a plant doctor!). While he hasn’t pursued a formal food safety certification for his farm, he has built food safety into every part of his operation. Because his farm is small enough to be closely managed, Randy walks his fields each day, looking for signs of animal presence and paying special attention to crops that are often eaten raw, such as lettuce, herbs, tomatoes, and squash blossoms. He works alongside his staff to reinforce practices that reduce the risk of cross-contamination. Produce is washed in small batches, wash water is changed frequently, and regular handwashing is part of the daily routine.

Conversations like this are one of my favorite parts of shopping at the farmers market. Unlike our highly industrialized food system, where food often changes hands before reaching your plate, farmers markets connect you directly with the person who grew your food. You don’t have to wonder how it was grown or handled. You can simply ask.

A resilient food system doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because people choose to invest in it, week after week. Shopping at a farmers market is about more than bringing home delicious food. For many farms, farmers markets are one of the most profitable ways to sell their products, making your purchases especially important to their long-term success. Every market visit is an investment in the people, the land, and the local food economy that nourishes us all. Simply put, your support keeps our local farmers farming.

If I ever need a reminder of why this work matters, I don’t have to look far. I see familiar faces returning to their favorite farms, berry-stained children enjoying fruit at its sweetest, friends lingering over coffee, and families discovering something new because a farmer encouraged them to give it a try.

If you’re already shopping at your local farmers market, thank you! Your support makes a real difference. If you’d like to deepen your impact, consider:

• Make the farmers market your first stop before heading to the grocery store.
• Visit a little more often. Even one extra trip each month makes an impact.
• Pick up groceries for a neighbor, friend, coworker, or family member while you’re there.
• If your regular market doesn’t fit your schedule one week, visit another nearby market. Explore one of our five markets or discover another farmers market in our region or the state of Oregon!
• Get to know the people growing your food. Ask about their farm, what’s in season, their growing practices, or how this year’s weather has shaped the harvest.

Every market visit is a vote for the kind of food system we all want: one rooted in trust, transparency, and community.

Thank you for supporting local farmers and food makers. Together, we’re building a stronger local economy and a safer, more resilient food system.