While farmer’s markets are a great way to boost a grower’s income, they also provide a chance for both farmers and buyers to interact. Brad Rhodes particularly enjoys the social aspect of farmer’s markets and looks forward to the chance to meet his customers. “It’s fun to talk to customers and get feedback on my produce,” he says. “When I grew tomatoes, for example, I could find out exactly what variety the customers liked best.”

Because Rhodes consistently sells at the same farmer’s markets, he has been able to get to know his customers on a first-name basis. “I try to memorize 10 to 15 customer’s names’ at each market,” he says. “I like to greet people by name when they shop from me, or if I just see them walking by my stand.”

According to Lyons, customers know they have the opportunity to talk directly with growers, which is a big reason they like to shop at farmer’s markets. “When customers buy at a grocery store, many know that so-called fresh produce can be a week to three weeks old. The customer doesn’t know who grew it or where it came from, or what’s in it. At the farmer’s market, customers can ask farmers how they grew the produce, whether they use chemicals, et cetera.”

Farmers stand to gain by networking with each other at farmer’s markets too, according to Bruckerhoff. “The Warrenton Farmers’ Market was started in 2000,” she says. “Two farmers met at the market one day and found out that their farms are only about 5 miles apart from each other. They also found out that they both wanted to be full-time vegetable producers, but both needed markets. One had some equipment, supplies and land that the other did not, but the other had equipment, supplies and land that the other didn’t. They have since joined their efforts, to the benefit of both.”