Evolution of the Farmers Market

Mill City Farmers Market in Minneapolis

With the farmers market season upon us it seems fitting to dive into their history and evolution over time. The farmers market was not always a leisure activity for a Saturday morning to get some fresh flowers and a bag of vegetables or honey. It also did not happen just once or twice a week, giving you only one opportunity to buy locally sourced, fresh goods. It was ingrained in our every day existence. There was permanent space devoted to it, not an empty parking lot used for the morning or a section of downtown blocked from traffic for a few hours.

While the farmers market dates thousands of years back and could be a lengthy topic to cover, this post will focus on the farmers market in the United States. These markets date as far back as 1634 with the first markets based on the European model. The first known market was established in Boston by order of Governor John Winthrop. It was an open air market until a small wood building was constructed in 1662. Other markets began in the following decades in eastern towns including Hartford and New York. According to an article published by the USDA one of the oldest continuing markets in the U.S. is the Lancaster Central Market in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The market, a 120 square foot lot in the center of town, was opened in 1730. The market was vital for residents’ daily lives, providing fresh, local produce, meats and baked goods. A market house was built in 1889 and still stands today serving its original purpose.

Pennsylvania market in 1875 (Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress)

Most farmers markets did not fare as well as Lancaster's and began to disappear with the advent of better roads and refrigeration around the turn of the 20th century. Growth of towns pushed farms further from cities making it easier for farmers to ship their product via train instead of hauling it to the market each week. Others turned to opening permanent storefronts for their goods. Wholesalers replaced the small farmer and markets, removing them from the food distribution system. By the 1940s the supermarket was an established model for providing the goods the farmers market supplied.

The supermarket was a far cry from the original farmers market, but it was new and provided an easier way to shop, making it an instant success. Despite the freedom to shop whenever was most convenient and to get virtually anything on your shopping list, there were downsides that went unnoticed. Only one unknown source for products was available instead of multiple vendors to chose from. It was less sustainable and created more waste because food was prepackaged, instead relying on individuals to bring their own containers. Last, the social spirit of the market was gone. The supermarket was a place of business, not the central heart of the community providing a place to sit and relax after spending the morning gathering necessary goods. The loss of the farmers market meant more than the loss of fresh and homemade goods, but also the loss the social structure in many communities. The market held a central role both physically and socially in early communities. The goods they purchased directly helped the farmers surrounding their towns and put them on a first name basis with the person growing their food. They also could talk with their neighbors and catch up on the weeks events.

While the supermarket is still the dominant method for getting food in America, the farmers market has been revived. Starting in the 1960s, the farmers market began growing as a movement throughout the U.S. Only about 100 were in operation in 1960, growing to over 3,000 by 2000. Today there are nearly 8,000 markets across the U.S. with larger cities hosting several markets throughout the week. These markets serve a similar function as the original market, with some modern additions. The markets of the 1600's were not selling decorative signs for your home or clothing and jewelry. Their purpose was focused on feeding families in their communities. The first markets often held a permanent location in the heart of their communities, whereas today's markets often only occupy temporary space on a Saturday or Sunday morning. Once over, the stalls are packed up and cars begin parking or driving through the space once again.

One of the downtown farmers markets in Minneapolis

Regardless of the changes, the resurgence of the farmers market is a benefit to any community. The farmers market is reintroducing the concept of knowing who grew your food and how it was grown. It is also reviving the social connections lost when relying on a solitary excursion to the grocery store once a week. During times like these, when we are suffering from isolation and the impacts of COVID-19, an open air farmers market is good to have. With vendors properly spaced and shoppers maintaining proper separation, fresh, local goods can be purchased, helping to support local farmers and producers and provide face to face interaction with several people . So as your own farmers market reopens this spring, consider stopping by for your produce much like the early settlers of this nation did several centuries ago.