Farmers Markets May Not Have Locally Grown Produce

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Farmers Markets May Not Have Locally Grown Produce

CHICAGO (CBS) ―

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    Fruits and vegetables at your nearest farmer's market may not always be locally grown.

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Heading to your local farmers market is a rite of summer. But if you think all the fruits and vegetables are locally grown, you may be in for a surprise. As CBS 2's Dorothy tucker reports, you might be picking through "freshly shipped."

"You're getting fresh vegetables and they're coming right directly from the farm," said a woman selling produce at a local Farmers Market.

But where are those farms located? The farmers may be from lllinois, Indiana, Wisconsin or Michigan.

But Bob Vankalker, who's from Chicago Heights and sells his goods at the Oak Lawn Farmers Market, admits much of from his produce didn't come from his farm.

"The tomatoes are from Arkansas," he said. "The beans, I think, are out of Kentucky actually."

The potatoes were grown in Minnesota and the onions picked in Georgia.

And Vankalker got it all from the Chicago International Produce Market on the Southwest Side of the city. Supermarkets, restaurants and other retailers buy fruits and vegetables there that are shipped in from around the globe.

Vankalker says he picks up his produce there and sells it at the farmer's market.

When asked if he thinks he is deceiving customers, he said, "No. People want the produce now, and that's the only things that are available right now."

Farmers like Vankalker aren't breaking any rules by selling shipped-in produce at the Oak Lawn Farmers Market, but the rules are tougher in Chicago.

Market inspector Yescenia Mota says people are not allowed to buy things from the International Produce Market and sell it in Chicago Farmers Markets. She wants to make sure consumers are getting fresh, local produce because it's usually more expensive.

"It's a different price point because these farmers are actually out there growing, picking, watering, bringing it to the market, and they have to put all their costs into that pricing," said Mota.

To be sure you're getting the locally grown produce you're paying for, take some tips from farmers at Chicago's Green City Market.

"You gotta look for quality," said farmer Paul Thalen. "Does it look like it's been sitting in a truck for four or five days or does it look fresh?"

And it shouldn't look uniform. Produce from a local farm is seldom the same size. Another clue that it came from elsewhere is if it's obviously out of season or it can't be grown in the Midwest.

There is some out-of-season produce that actually is locally grown. It might have been grown in a green house or, in the case of apples, stored from last year.

The best way to shop the Farmers Markets is to know what truly is in season. Click here for a seasonality chart that shows when you can expect locally grown produce in the Farmers Markets.