I read an article about questions to ask farmers at the farmers market. You can probably imagine the questions about pesticides, GMO’s and animal welfare, like how much fresh air and exercise they get, and honestly, I don’t think these are great questions to ask your farmer or rancher to learn more about their product.

As an advocate, I am asked to make sure I form a bond of trust with consumers. In order for them to want my product, I must be able to build a relationship with them. But, this has to be reciprocated in order to have a healthy owner/customer relationship. Farmers and ranchers might jump to a defensive position if confronted with questions that they feel are loaded.

These questions the author listed could easily bring hostility, and seem very triggering when it comes to explaining them to the consumer; they aren’t black and white. There are far better questions to ask of those who grow our food, that will not only help build a relationship but also provide better educational opportunities for both the farmer and the consumer. Below I have listed questions you should be asking at the farmers’ markets. The questions shouldn’t be open-ended, rather they should allow the producer the chance to tell their story.

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1. Instead of asking what sprays and pesticides your rancher uses, ask why they use them and how they benefit their product?
2. Instead of asking if they use GMO seeds, ask the same questions as you would about pesticides- why they are used and how they benefit?
3. Instead of asking what certifications they have, ask how they invest in, and add value to, their crops and livestock. This gives them the opportunity to talk about the hard work they put into extra programs?
4. Instead of asking if they use no-till, regenerative agriculture, or any other specific practices, because these are loaded, ask them what fits their business financially and environmentally?
5. Instead of asking if you can visit their farm, ask if they offer tours, or have a website and social media so you can get a better glimpse of their farm? Asking if you can visit someone’s farm may come across as alarming in today’s climate when there are a lot of animal activist attacks on farmers and ranchers.
6. Instead of asking how animals are treated, ask them about their passion for ranching, and ask them about their animal welfare practices?
7. You can also ask about common myths in their sector of the industry, and what the truths are? This will allow you to understand the industry better and give the farmer or rancher a chance to explain their story.

Simply asking genuine questions that gets to know their business and shows that you are wanting to build a relationship with them. Putting farmers and ranchers under a spotlight and demanding to know what they do on their operation won’t always produce a conducive outcome. While they are marketing their products to you, and are at your mercy when it comes to having a successful business (afterall, they wouldn’t have a business without customers) it’s still so important that while they are expected to meet consumers where they are, they should also try to meet them where they are. Everyone has reasons for what they do, and if someone gave them the opportunity to tell their story, rather than judge because of the articles they have read from people who haven’t spent time in the industry, the relationships might be much stronger.