...Sustainability
A sustainable food system uses practices that are socially just, environmentally sound, economically competitive, humane, and resource-conserving. Sustainable agriculture uses those same practices. Each farmer has different practices, but the farms at the FPFM tend to farm more sustainably than the average American farm. They generally use fewer pesticides, take better care of the soil, and cause less runoff and pollution. One benefit of farmers' markets is that shoppers can ask growers directly about their methods.