Looking for True, Fresh Produce

Ok, I need to vent and then share an inspired dream....

I was at the grocery store this weekend. I try to buy our allergy free foods and basic stuff at a grocery store nearby that has lower prices. I refuse to buy our produce there as most often I am disgusted by the lack of quality. Nothing makes me cringe more than pulling an apple out that looks good and then seeing a brown, soft spot, worm holes or just plain, black rotten areas. Or seeing that lying right next to the apple that I picked up is one that fits the disgusting description above. So to help me not be disgusted, I decided that I would go to a coop and buy my produce.

Let me set the stage for you. I am once again looking at the organic apples. I am feeling a little disappointed as these organic apples are not as perfect as I was hoping, but are edible. As I am searching through the apples, across the produce and on the melon side are 2 workers at this coop. Here is what I over hear them saying in a very quiet voice (I am assuming they did not want me to hear):

"What do you think of this melon?" (the first worker is holding a muskmelon in his hand)
the second worker says, " It looks fine."
The first worker says, "What should I do about the mold on it?"
The second worker says, "Just wipe it off and put it back on there. It looks fine."
The first worker says (and I want to believe his good morals are sending off red flags of warning), "I don't know if it feels ok though."
The second worker says, " Just wipe it off and put it on. It is fine."

At this point, I decided to walk away. I had chosen 3 apples that were in a bag in my hand. I walked away and continued to think about these apples. Did these have mold too? Were they wiped off? How old is the produce here? Why do they think it is ok to wipe off mold and sell produce? Do they not care that this could make people sick? I placed my apples in the spinach section and walked out.

Thankfully, there are farmer's markets. It is so refreshing to be able to walk up to the table, select what I am interested in and actually talk to the farmer. The farmers can tell me how they grew the produce (what do they use to grow it as well as keep the bugs away), how they harvest it, how they store it and how long ago they harvested it. I don't see things with mold at the farmer's markets. I see farmers who are proud of their crops and want people to be healthy. I love local farmers and their crops. I feel better buying from them and knowing what I feed my family.

My experience at the grocery store and coops have made me leery of buying produce there. Too many unanswered questions. Too many gross looking items.  Besides, I enjoy supporting my local farmers and the food tastes better. I know it was harvested not log ago, sometimes just that morning. Thank you farmers! Inside me, I have this hope or maybe it is a wish, that maybe someday, I  or someone else nearby can open a fresh produce store that will support local famrers. I would like a store that only has local produce and sells items that are in season. That would not only help the farmers, but help our bodies stay healthy and in rhythm with nature. It's a dream, but nothing ever happens if we don't dream :)