West Central Minnesota Farmers Market Pricing Study

University of Minnesota Extension and the University of Minnesota Morris’ Center for Small Towns collected price data for nine popular vegetables at seven farmers markets in West Central Minnesota, as well as six mainline grocery stores and two natural food stores during peak growing season in July and August of 2014.

The market basket consisted of one pound each of nine vegetables. The average farmers market price for cucumbers, green peppers, onions, string beans, summer squash and sweet corn was less than the average grocery store price per pound, although only the difference between summer squash and zucchini were statistically significant.

The average grocery store price was less than the average farmers market price for cabbage and tomatoes, with cabbage having the highest difference.