Why the market is a good deal, for you and for me, the farmer
When you buy a tomato at the grocery store, most of what you pay isn't for the tomato. The USDA tracks this every year. In 2024, farms received 11.8 cents of every dollar spent on food grown in the U.S. The other 88 cents went to everything that happens after the farm: processing, packing, trucking, warehousing, and the store itself.
At a farmers market, those steps just don't exist for most growers. The food rode a few miles in the back of a truck, and the person who grew it is the one handing it to you, or they are having a fellow farmer or available employee sell it at the farmers market. That short trip, cutting out the whole trucking, manufacturing and big box grocer process, is where the value comes from. It’s also how to get the freshest produce.
In-season produce is often priced at or below the store. When a crop is coming in heavy, like zucchini in July or tomatoes in August, market prices are often as good as the grocery store's or better. Specialty and out-of-season items can cost a bit more, because our small farm can't match industrial scale. But at the same time, if I’m up-priced too much, I won’t make any sales at all. So I’m kind of bound by the grocery store pricing. For what's growing here right now, the market is a fair deal and often a better one.
Fresher food lasts longer at home. Produce picked a day or two ago hasn't spent a week in transit, so less of it goes bad in your fridge. Food you don't throw away is food you didn't overpay for. Also, don’t put your tomatoes in the fridge. They want to live on your counter.
Your whole dollar goes to the farm. Buying direct means the grower keeps all of it instead of about twelve cents, and that money gets spent again right here in the county. I’m probably buying more earrings from my bestie Sam with the money you bought your green peppers with.
Ask the grower. They'll tell you what's at its best this week, and how to store it if you can’t use it right away. That's free, and you won't get it at a self-checkout. If you are at my market, the best part of my week is chatting with you and talking about how I prepare my food, what I do with my scraps, and listening to you all, my customers tell me new and delicious ways to eat the food i’m growing or getting from other local growers.
Federal nutrition benefits go further at a market
Maryland Market Money matches federal nutrition benefits dollar for dollar, up to $20 per person per day at participating markets, farm stands, and CSAs. Spend $20 in benefits, receive $20 in additional tokens.
Benefits matched:
SNAP / EBT
SUN Bucks (Summer EBT) and Pandemic or Disaster EBT
FMNP, the Farmers Market Nutrition Program, for seniors and WIC participants
WIC Fruit & Vegetable Benefit (WIC-CVV/B)
Matched funds cover fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, dairy, eggs, meat, poultry, fish, baked goods, vegetable plants, jams, pickles, syrup, and honey. Participating locations are called Food Access Points, and the daily cap can vary by location. The Maryland Department of Agriculture market directory shows which markets accept which programs.
Markets in Charles County
La Plata Farmers Market close to our hearts and keeping La Plata agricultural traditions going since 1978.
Where: the parking lots behind the Charles County Courthouse complex. For GPS, use 209 Washington Ave., La Plata, MD 20646.
2026 season: Saturdays April 4 through November 28; Wednesdays April 8 through August 26
Hours: 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Contact: 301-966-7473, LPFMmanager@gmail.com
Bryans Road Farmers Market: a rotating mix of local vendors with farm-fresh produce and locally produced goods, organized through the Canopy Group. The 2026 season is every Sunday from 9am until 1pm. See canopygroup.org for details.
Waldorf Farmers Market: focused on local, fresh produce and supporting the Southern Maryland farm community. Hours vary by season; the MDA directory is the most reliable place to confirm current days, hours, and which benefit programs are accepted.