Farmers markets outnumber Wal-Marts, and they're growing

In response to the White-fish Pilot's July 10 editorial cartoon: "Look, spinach." And kale, chard, collards, mustard, onions, beets, radishes, eggs, salad mix, rhubarb, arugula and herbs. And that's just at my vending booth at the Downtown Whitefish Farmers Market.

At other farmers booths there are plants, yak, buffalo, honey, strawberries and carrots. As the season advances, more Montana-grown food is on the way — zukes, cukes, tomatoes, peppers, raspberries, melons, garlic, kohlrabi, turnips, rutabagas, currants, apples, pears, winter squash, potatoes and pumpkins.

And many of the market's prepared-food vendors feature locally-grown food. Pork sandwiches, crepes, soups and other delectable dishes are often prepared with goods purchased from farmers booths just minutes before it is eaten.

The Downtown Farmers Market is a glimpse of the potential of the past food system — in 1940, food processing was the number one employer in the state. In the 1950s, Montanans grew 70 percent of the food we ate. Today we grow only 13 percent of the food we eat.

But there is a change happening. Slowly, people across the country are starting to pay attention to our food system. "The Omnivore's Dilemma," by Michael Pollan, and "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle," by Barbara Kingsolver, are both best-selling books that feature compelling spotlights on some of the issues involved in the way we produce and consume our food today.

There are now more than 4500 farmers markets across the country. This means there are more farmers markets in the U.S. than Wal-Marts.

Considering the average food morsel travels 1,500 miles and is handled 33 times before it gets to your mouth, food dollars spent locally are a great choice. If each Montanan spent just $10 a week buying Montana-grown food, this would infuse $185 million back into our state economy.

The bounty of the Flathead does exist. You just have to look a little harder for it.

I applaud all the dedicated entrepreneurs who schlep their goods in and out of the Downtown Farmers Market each and every week of the summer. I applaud the countless volunteers, musicians, community groups and community members who make this event so enjoyable each and every week. Thanks for buying local.

I do wish the Downtown Farmers Market had more farmers, but they just don't exist — yet.

Pam Gerwe operates a farm near Whitefish called Purple Frog Gardens.