It's True! Farmers Markets Are Cheaper Than Supermarkets

Fair or not, farmers markets are often viewed as places where wealthy people shop for expensive organic produce. But this week The Atlantic wrote about several studies proving exactly the opposite, that overall the goods from farmers markets in various regions are less expensive than the same items at nearby grocery stores. Surprised?

The studies — conducted in Vermont, Washington State and Iowa — compared farmers market and grocery store prices on a small selection of items. Among the conventionally-raised goods in one study, only eggs and potatoes were less expensive at the grocery store. And in that same study, every single organic item was almost 40 percent cheaper at the farmers markets.

This actually doesn't come as a surprise. While the biggest, busiest farmers markets in my area can be quite expensive, the smaller, neighborhood farmers market I frequent generally has prices that are much lower than the surrounding grocery stores, especially for organic produce and responsibly-raised eggs and meat.

• Read the article: The Farmers' Market Myth - The Atlantic

Are the farmers markets in your area generally cheaper than surrounding supermarkets?

(Image: Emily Ho)

Comments (25)

In a way, I'm not surprised about this - the prices for most vegetables were WAY lower at the farmers market when I was in college (in Madison, WI) - great for a college student's budget! That said, I have my doubts that it's true for me now (the markets I shop at are in DC and Arlington, VA).

Unfortunately, I have to agree with Emily S. I shop at markets in Montgomery County, MD, and I don't think that they are lower then the local grocery stores. Makes me think that I might have to do my own little analysis of that. Not that it would make a difference, once my local market opens later this month, I'm there and gladly eschew the grocery stores.

Some are, others are not. Here in San Francisco the Oakland Friday Market and the Civic CEnter Wed/Sun Market are screamingly cheaper than almost anything anywhere. The Ferry Plaza display case of a market? Not so much...

I really hate this stereotype! Sure, there are some markets and booths that focus on organic gourmet ingredients that will be more expensive, but there are lots of great deals to be found! It helps to learn when things are at their peak season: buying tomatoes in early June or late September will seem pricey, but in August they cost half as much. Also, many farmers markets accept food stamps and WIC.

i live in the hamptons year round and can say with certainty that farmer's markets here are DEFINITELY more expensive than the supermarket.

Yeah, the markets in DC are definitely more expensive - not that it keeps me from shopping there, because the quality is so good. But around here fruit routinely runs $5/pint, greens and herbs $3-4/bunch, other veggies $3-5/pound, eggs $5-6/dozen, meat $6-20/pound, and the grocery stores sell conventional equivalents for 50-70% of that. Again, I'm willing to pay a premium for good quality local goods, but the idea that it isn't significantly more expensive is laughable. I stopped buying garlic at the market last year after I realized I was paying $3 per head - ouch.

The other problem with farmer's markets is that you can't buy in small quantities. You'll be hard pressed to buy, say, two or three apples, or 50 grams (2 ounces) of cheese. For a family, it might very well be cheaper. But if you're living on your own, you've pretty much got only three choices in terms of farmer's markets:

1. Buy a variety of things, in farmer's-market quantities, pay a lot more money than at the grocery store, and watch a lot of it spoil before you can eat it.

2. Buy a limited variety of things, in farmer's-market quantities, take advantage of the discount over the grocery store, and be stuck eating the same thing every day for a week so it doesn't go bad.

3. Try to get together a farmer's-market shopping group with two or three other people and hope that you all have the same tastes and availabilities, so that you can buy produce and split it amongst you.

the ORGANIC part of this post should be emphasized. I feel like there's some truth to these limited item studies if you keep in mind that component. However here in DC I've found when comparing conventionally grown vegetables (seasonal) the grocery stores tend to be cheaper since they buy in a much larger volume. I'll still stick to my CSA for the summer since it's helping the smaller farmers and I get the freshest and most local produce.

Their statement about potatoes is not always true. Sure, you can get Russets and Yukon Golds cheaper at the supermarket, but if you like baby red potatoes, they're way cheaper at my farmer's market ($0.50 per lb) than at Kroger ($2.00 per lb).

The FM's around me are absolutely cheaper than stores like Whole Foods. The trick is to find which FM vendors are the right fit for you and even which FMs are the best for what you want. I go to two different ones per week, but I made an effort to explore all of the ones around me. I spend about $50/week at the FM and I get way more than I could at ANY big chain market.

I think it varies from markets to markets. Here in the East Bay of the Bay Area, the Saturday market I frequent ALWAYS have cheaper produce than the supermarket.

I am curious why farmer's market quantities are two big for a single persohn. Why can't you buy three apples. I get that a bunch of rapini is a bunch at the supermarket or fm but why not 1-3 apples.

I'll pay a premium for good organic produce where ever I buy it because it tastes better and I support organic farming. Our local markets vary a lot in pricing so it depends on where you shop and what you buy to determine whether it is a "deal."

It's interesting to hear so many DC people chime in. We lived there for a long time right by Eastern Market--I loved supporting area farmers and I did every weekend, but I definitely paid a premium to do so! Farmer's Markets there are rarely cheaper than Safeway--especially if you buy produce at the supermarket based on what's on sale, which is what I did when we were there and were on a very limited budget.

Chicago, on the other hand, has cheaper food all around, and Farmer's Markets are often cheaper or around the same price as grocery stores. Geography really changes things up!

Regardless, I'll continue to try and support farmers and organic whenever we can afford to!

Duh! Of course they are cheaper.

I hate it when people speak (type) in absolutes. They are not always cheaper, and location is often the biggest indicator of relative cheapness.
The expensive farmers market around Central PA is located right next to Camp Hill, a very wealthy town. The more affordable ones are in Carlisle and Harrisburg, more middle class areas. Road-side stands are abundant and consistantly cheaper than the grocery stores here.

Not all the produce at my local farmer's market is organic; there are a few organic specific farmer's markets that look more like local supermarkets though than a real market.
For me the actual farmer's market is always cheaper expect with eggs.
1.) You can bargain. I usually come late in the market day (around 1-2 pm) - people are closing up and just want stuff gone. I have got great bargains this way. The downside is you may not necessarily find everything you want because some sellers may be gone.
2.) I can buy more for cheaper - and the produce is fresher than at the supermarket. This means even if I buy 2 pounds of mushrooms or brussels sprouts, it probably will last a week or two in the fridge.

Not to mention all the other extra products that I am likely to pick up at the supermarket which are expensive and will be gone in a few days (chips, soda, processed snack foods) and I'll go back to the store for more the same midweek.

I've only recently started going to my local farmers market in Cleveland and it seems that prices are less than at the grocery store, there is more variety, and you can certainly get smaller quantities. In fact most of the vendors of fruits and veggies and herbs are so nice and helpful I wouldn't give it a second thought to ask if I could get a smaller portion and see what they said.

I've noticed that even when the farmers' market produce is more expensive, it's often for a different variety of the same produce.

For example, I can buy cheap garlic at my grocery store, but it's the softneck kind that's easier (therefore cheaper) to plant and harvest mechanically and that tolerates storage. The more expensive farmers' market garlic is not only fresher, it's hardneck garlic, which has more complexity and subtlety of flavor.

In NYC, the farmers market is definitely more expensive than grocery stores. Although i go regularly, i don't shop as much i would like to because i'm held back by the prices (for non-organics!). And the fact is, the quality is NOT always better than grocery stores!!! I like to support local agriculture and love everything the farmers market represents, but the fact of the matter is that its not all its cracked up to be in NYC at least. And all NYC farmers markets are organized by the same organization so its the same farmers in different locations, so going to a different market doesn't actually change the composition of farmers. :(

Don't fall prey to huge generalizations. The price and quality of any vegetable or fruit depends greatly on things like soil and seasonal weather conditons. I should read the study but I assume it's "all things being equal".

Of course food packaged, transported and handled will incur more expense than if the farmer just tosses stuff in her truck and drives it to the local market. Naturally it's more eco friendly to keep the trip local and to buy organic, labelled or not, and to know the growing practices. it also helps the local economy.

The soils in our region of Mass are much more fertile and rich in minerals than some other places, we found a certain area down south where the farmer's market food was a bit disappointing. Ours and others with fertile soil taste out of this world.

And you're going to save money eating healthier anyway.

....And what's this with not being able to buy small quantiites?? I'm always able to get organic individiual veggies and wedges of cheese at the farmer's market, whereas at Stop and Shop the organic veggies are usually in (plastic!) packages.

our farmers markets are cheaper for organic produce than the grocery store (in Charlotte, NC). we're moving to Asheville in a couple weeks and have found the same rule applies there. we don't have any issues with being able to buy small quantities of things. but even if the price were more, it's a matter of priorities in our household. we want to know where our food is coming from. buying direct from farmers is the only way we can make sure.

haha, try to find a real farmers' market in frozen new hampshire in january. i can get meat,and sometimes eggs. but forget about real green vegetables. those folk down south or on the west coast can talk all they want about farmers' markets, but we have to wait and wait......

I have to agree with mh330 RE NYC farmers markets. I like a lot of the products, and I'm more than willing to go out of my way to support local farmers, but the prices are frequently (not always) significantly higher than those in grocery stores. I've found duck charcuterie at similar or better prices than Fairway, but cheese from local farms run about $24.00/lb, which is ok for the occasional luxury adventure nibble but certainly too high to buy in bulk for the whole family. Eggs are $6.00/doz., carrots and potatoes can run double the price of store-bought.

I find in general that my trips to the farmers markets in my area are fun and interesting but not particularly cost-effective. I do understand that local farms cannot compete with slave labor and factory farms, and I do my best to give them my business even if they cost more...when my budget allows.

There was a farmer's market in mid town Toronto this past spring thru autumn on a closed off section of street on Thursdays. While everything looked lovely it was all rather more expensive than at the local fruit and veggie store. I'm not even sure some of it came directly from a local farm. Some looked like it came from the Ontario Food Terminal just like nearly everything I'd find in the fruit and veggie store or the grocery store.