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

[bibliofile.livejournal.com]

Subtext, of course: Looking at food stamp usage is one thing that can be tracked, and it very possibly is.