Have you ever suspected the produce you buy at the farmers’ market isn’t really from a local farm?

An investigation at more than two dozen farmers markets in Los Angeles by NBCLA uncovered a number of vendors who were falsely selling as “locally grown” produce that had in fact originated at big commercial farms as far away as Mexico.

So, how do you, the customer, know if a farmer is selling locally grown and pesticide-free produce that really came from his farm?

The report offers the following advice:

“Operators of farmers markets we spoke to suggest shoppers get to know vendors they buy from, and ask them a lot of questions. Ask for the exact location of the farm where the produce is grown. If they claim their produce is “pesticide-free,” ask them what methods they use to control pests on their crops. Ask exactly when the produce was picked.
 
If the farmer can’t give you specific answers, or seems unwilling to answer your questions, market operators say you should walk away.”

Here’s the link to the full article:  “False Claims, Lies Caught on Tape at Farmers’ Markets”