Study: Local Food Costs Less
JUNE 10, 2007 - Many people assume that farmers’ markets are more expensive than supermarkets, but according to a new study that may not be true.
In May, business and economics students at Seattle University compared the prices of 15 organic produce products at a farmers’ market, a QFC supermarket (a chain owned by Cincinnati-based Kroger Co., one of the largest grocery corporations in the U.S. with fiscal 2006 sales of $66.1 billion), and a cooperative. Pound for pound, the farmers’ market proved to be slightly more affordable overall.
Prices ranged fairly widely, from an incredible savings of $6 per pound on farmers’ market asparagus versus the QFC product (note: a clear example of saving money by buying local food in season) to a loss of $50 cents per pound if you bought your potatoes from the market. Other products included Fuji apples, salad mix, spinach, baby carrots, and baby bok choy. (Note: I can’t yet post a link to the study itself, as it has not been put online.)
Interestingly, a spokesperson for QFC acknowledged the competitive pricing of farmers’ markets in an interview with the Seattle Times. “Pricewise, we’re not always going to be able to compete directly with them because their overhead is different,” said Kristin Maas. She went on to say QFC is “able to offer a lot more variety” - though I have to say that my own experience suggests farmers’ markets offer greater selection than most supermarkets, the blog entry for June 5 being just one example.
Hopefully the Seattle study will prompt similar research elsewhere. It’s important that we get a clearer sense of the cost of quality local food - in part to dispel the myth that local food costs more than comparable products shipped in from long distance, but also to find ways to make the flavour and nutrition benefits of fresh food available to everyone, regardless of income.
By the way, if you live in Washington you can track down your local (and thrifty) farmers’ market at wafarmersmarkets.com. -JBM
