Well. That's different.

[libertango]

Over at the Freakonomics blog at the New York Times, they have a post with an odd sensibility: "Is Locavorism for Rich People Only?"

My just-posted comment:

*^*^*

"(I)f there’s one thing you do not see at the farmers’ market, it’s socio-economic diversity."

Speak for yourself, James.

I realize it's anecdotal, and I realize it's a single data point. But my observation at my local farmers' market (in Kent, WA) is there is indeed socio-economic diversity. If anything, I'd say the market appeals to both rich and poor -- but it's the McDonalds/Walmart/solidly middle class who don't turn up. (This is somewhat reminiscent of the old Punch cartoon of a movie with a poster about being funny "for young and old," and we see grandfather and grandson laughing, with a befuddled parent.)

I've been ascribing this to the middles' preference for processed "convenience" foods, precisely because they may perceive fresh foods as a sign of recent immigration (a la Asian grocery stores), or poverty. Like you, though, I have no empirical data to support the idea.

Comments

[kate-schaefer.livejournal.com]

The people I see at the University Farmers' Market are aged yuppies (like Glenn and me and his colleagues), current yuppies, and impoverished-looking Russian immigrants. More Russian immigrants than I would have believed could possibly live near that market.

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

I was interested to see that the Fremont public association, Solid Ground, offers its brochure in Russian (as well as in Chinese, Korean, Spanish, and Vietnamese).

[akirlu.livejournal.com]

In Kent the most numerous immigrants tend to be Ukranian, with various Spanish speakers also. You definitely see all sorts at the farmers market, and lots of people taking advantage of the various farmers who accept WIC checks. But yeah, it's pleasantly multi-ethnic around here. (It's particularly cool to go down to the Carpinito's farm stand when pickling cucumbers come into season, because it's an ocean of babushkas -- clearly there are a lot of homemade pickles made in Kent.)