Book 9, Question 119
Why Do Farmers Markets Feel Different From Megastores?
Farmers markets feel different from megastores because you meet the people who grow your food! The food usually travels a shorter distance, and the selection follows the seasons. You can ask questions, taste samples with permission, and hear stories about the farm.
More fun facts
- The average supermarket carries about 44,000 different items.
- Supermarkets are designed, from floor plan to lighting and music, to keep shoppers inside and buying.
- Many supermarkets have a one way entry door, so you must walk through much of the store to get out.
- The produce section is usually the first thing you see, and the bakery's bread smell often greets you near the entrance.
- At farmers markets, people buy straight from the farmers, like a couple who bring produce from their 60 acre Virginia farm to Washington, D.C.
- The number of farmers markets in the UK grew to about 750 by 2009.
Sources: National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, BBC
Questions kids ask
Why do supermarkets put fruit near the door?
Bright, fresh produce makes a good first impression and puts shoppers in a buying mood.