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You can bet that every chef featured on Supper Club with Tom Bergeron only cooks with the best produce the local farmers' market has to offer. How do they make sure they get the best? They ask questions and get acquainted with the farmers that grow their food.
Next time you visit your local farmers' market, ask questions, lots of them. You'll be amazed to learn about what goes into growing the crops that end up on your dinner table.
Here are some questions to get the conversation started:
Do you use chemical pesticides?
Organic farmers buy all National Organic Program (NOP) listed plant treatments instead of chemical pesticides. Instead of fertilizer, they use cover crops like clover to keep the soil full of nutrients. They also mulch and practice companion planting to maintain a high level of moisture in the soil.
Are you an organic farmer?
Keep in mind it is often costly for small farmers who thrive off an abundance of different crops to obtain organic certification for all of their various crops. This doesn't always mean that they don't participate in the sustainable processes listed above, amongst many others. It is often easier for huge farms that specialize in one crop to obtain certification than for your smaller local farmers.
Who sells the best strawberries?
Other local farmers are well versed on who has the best crops. It's a great idea to ask local farmers who offers the best dairy, produce, and meat. They will usually be happy to tell you.
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