Farmers' Markets and Organic Farming in Oklahoma

Abstract

This research examines the connection between organic farming and the farmers' market in Oklahoma. It specifically addresses the barriers to the dispersion of organic knowledge and farming in the state in relation to the availability of organic produce in the farmers' markets and the issues surrounding organic certification through the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture. Methods include a farmers' market survey that counted vendors, vendor types, and qualitatively assessed each market according to defined market types. This survey included markets in California, an example of an established organic state, for the purposes of comparison. A separate survey was given at a farmers' market in Tulsa to collect consumer opinions about organic produce and its availability in the farmers' market and in the city as a whole. Interviews were conducted with state and non-profit employees, farmers and others related to these issues. This research found that consumers trust a farmer who claims that their produce is grown organically even when these farmers are not certified through the state. These non-certified organic farmers have abstained from the legally required registration for a number of reasons including the cost and requirements of the certification process as well as a verbal dissatisfaction with governmental intervention. As this group represents nearly a quarter of vendors selling at the farmers' markets in Oklahoma, as well as 86% of the organic growers selling at the markets, their opinions and speak directly to the future of organic farming in Oklahoma. The results of this research provide a foundation for many different types of future analysis including the distribution of organic farms in relation to current centers of agriculture and the farmers' markets type in relation to organic produce availability.