JUNE 2008: AROUND THE STATE
Rising
market prices don’t dampen demand
STATEWIDE At the
Saturday Portland Farmers Market, one of the largest on the
West Coast and one of the first to open each year, feed prices
have pushed the cost of eggs to almost $6 a dozen, up from
$4.50 last year, and many other prices have nudged higher.
But that didn’t keep the attendance at the April 12
market at Portland State University from reaching 13,000
people, equal to the summer peak figure last year.
Whether it’s fuel-conscious consumers staying close to
home or shoppers seeing farmers markets as an affordable
luxury, as the season opens during an economic downturn,
enthusiasm for local markets appears to outweigh concern over
the higher food prices.
Farmers market expert Larry Lev, an Oregon State University
professor, says he surveyed the Hillsdale winter market in
March and asked what people were spending vs. 2005. In 2005,
the average was $19.50 and this year it was $31.
“They were coming prepared to buy increased
quantities,” he says. “There is more serious
shopping going on. It’s gotten past the phase of coming
just to drink a latte and buy a few tomatoes.”
The same holds true for community supported agriculture (CSA)
farms, which offer produce subscriptions. At Sauvie Island
Organics, the cost of a produce box is $845 for 29 weeks; last
year it was $790. At Gathering Together Farms in Philomath a
produce box is $500 for 22 weeks this year versus $450 last
year. Increased fuel cost was cited by both farms as the reason
for the increase.
Despite this, Shari Raider, who owns Sauvie Island Organics,
says demand has increased despite the rising prices. She says
she’s put two more acres into production this year and
the number of community shares (subscriptions) has risen to 250
this year from 200. And there’s a waiting list.
“All the CSAs have waiting lists, and all have raised
prices,” Raider says. She thinks it’s because
consumers have decided to use their dollars to support the
local economy — along with getting fresh, nutritious food
— even though they have to pay more.
Lev will be watching how markets thrive as they begin to
widely open around the state this month during the downturn. He
predicts existing markets will do well, but new vendors might
be reluctant to take on new markets because high fuel costs and
tight labor availability might make it hard to fulfill
commitments.
“Farmers markets have found their niche in
people’s lives,” says Lev. “In one sense it
is more expensive than going to Safeway, but in another sense,
people can afford
it.”
ROBIN DOUSSARD
