Are Farmers Market Foods Safer Than Grocery Store Produce?

Recent surveys indicate that 59% of U.S. consumers consider knowing their food’s source important, and 54% favor consistently available local options. The country hosts more than 8,700 farmers markets where about 40,000 growers sell directly to shoppers. Heightened scrutiny of food safety, spurred by a series of notable recalls, has put these markets in the spotlight.

Unlike produce that travels hundreds or thousands of miles through multiple facilities, items from small farms often follow a brief, direct path from field to table. To explore this claim, reporters visited a family-run farm in Camarillo, California, observing the practices that vendors use to promote freshness and safety. The piece also notes that the video accompanying the story is funded by Verizon Business, which had no editorial input.