Ed Vaught, owner of Hidden Holler Farms feeds his turkeys on his farm in Bethpage, Tennessee on Saturday, July, 11, 2026. Ed sells his products at the Richland Park Farmers Market in Nashville. Seth Herald for The New York Times
Words by Emily Cochrane for The New York Times.
“To get a sense of how food prices are changing in America, look to the farmers market.
It may not be the lowest-cost option for some, what with free-range chickens, small gardens and a distinct lack of economies of scale. But such markets cut out what stands between you and the person who provides your produce — third-party shippers, grocery store workers, marketers and the like. The vendors’ balance sheets show clearly how slight increases in farm costs push up consumer prices.”