With live music, great artwork, a range of delicious treats, and colorful bounty from a host of Harrisonburg and Rockingham gardens, the Saturday morning Harrisonburg Farmers’ Market provides an entertaining and delicious experience. This past Saturday, I found myself at a nice, shady picnic table enjoying an Apple Chai Monkey Bread pastry from Staff of Life Bakery and a freshly brewed cup of coffee from Chestnut Ridge Roasters as I took in very calming bluegrass live music. Each of these elements were extremely well done. The pastry was perfectly flavored with a crunchy top and fluffy interior, just the way I enjoy it. The coffee was the exact boost I needed for the beginning of the weekend. 

As I perused the market stands to choose a treat, I couldn’t help but marvel at the creativity and contentment I was seeing in the people selling goods. I ran into some friends, and they were commenting on this aspect of the farmers’ market as well. We talked for a while about the agency involved when someone is able to sell something that they actually created. Taking part in these kinds of transactions tends to make one just feel good about themself and the world. 

Also, though, I was reminded that this feeling of “good” is quite the privilege. It’s exciting to get a glimpse of what a healthier and more local form of an economy could look like, but I also think it’s important to be wary of feeling as though “supporting local” is a superior way of living. It just isn’t practical enough yet for all socioeconomic statuses. There is a very particular kind of customer at a farmer’s market, and that also became obvious to me as I perused the stands. 

So, I highly encourage spending a Saturday morning anytime from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Harrisonburg farmers’ market. It is a beautiful glimpse of what it looks like for someone to sell  goods with which they feel a connection. However, simultaneously, it’s important to beware of any superiority complex that comes from an option to buy local. This superiority complex can lead to complacency in the change that must happen for a farmers’ market type of economy to become accessible for all.