Did you know that every time you make a purchase, you’re shaping the market? Your food choices influence what’s available, what thrives, and what disappears.
Recently, I had a heartfelt conversation with a friend who is an urban farmer. We shared our excitement about offering fresh, diverse produce and products to our customers, pouring our passion into every item we grow and create. But there’s a harsh reality—when these carefully cultivated foods don’t sell, it’s disheartening. It forces us to question whether to continue growing and offering them at all.
For small-scale urban farmers, every season is a delicate balance of effort, environment, and consumer demand. Extreme weather—unseasonal cold snaps, relentless heat waves—can make it nearly impossible to sustain certain crops. Global warming isn’t just a theory; it’s something farmers battle daily, affecting what they can grow next season. But beyond the climate, it’s consumer behavior that often determines which foods make it to market. If customers don’t buy certain items, farmers simply can’t afford to grow them again.
Your choices matter more than you realize. Every purchase is a vote for what stays on our tables.
It’s important to recognize that your behavior directly impacts the availability of fresh produce from small-scale urban farmers. Every time you choose to buy fresh vegetables, you send a powerful signal—one that tells these farmers their hard work is valued, their crops are needed, and their efforts are worth continuing. But when you pass them by, the message is just as clear in the other direction.
Selling people on the idea of eating more vegetables is already a challenge without added barriers. Many hesitate to buy certain produce because they don’t know how to prepare it, they’re unsure of the taste, or they’ve had a negative experience in the past. But your choices—what you buy and what you don’t—tell local farmers what to grow and what to stop growing. Be mindful of the message you're sending.
If you truly want fresh, pesticide-free fruits and veggies, then support the farmers and businesses that bring them to you. They’re showing up at market for you. They’re looking to you—not just for encouragement, but for your action. They need you to buy the very produce you say you want.
Now, I know the title of this newsletter might sound a little dramatic—after all, fresh fruits and vegetables will always be available, right? Well… they’ll only be available as long as there’s demand. And that demand starts with YOU.
By making thoughtful purchasing decisions, you’re doing more than just ensuring your favorite produce remains available. You’re investing in local farmers, supporting artisans, and fostering a food system that is diverse, sustainable, and community-driven. And hopefully, that’s something we all want.
What do you think? Have you noticed shifts in what’s available at the market over time? I’d love to hear your thoughts—hit reply and let me know!
Hope you enjoy! Much love, Chef Beee
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Much Love,
Chef Beee
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