This month many of the local farmers markets open for the season. I attended the opening for my neighborhood this week. It was nice to see the colors of the spring represented in the greens of the lettuces, asparagus, herbs, and plants and the red of strawberries and rhubarb. However, there were a few colors there that I didn't expect to see. There were green grapes, red and yellow peppers, and mangos. This reminded me that not everything at the market is grown locally. In discussion with the vendor selling these items, I learned that they had purchased these items at a whole sale market and were reselling them at the farmers market.

So, as you start to visit your small neighborhood markets, don't be afraid to ask the vendor if they grew the products they are selling. As a consumer, you have the right to know where your products are coming from. The majority of vendors I spoke with did grow their own products and were able to talk about what they would be bringing for the season. It is always up to you on what you want to buy, but remember that not everything sold at the farmers market is grown or produced locally.