Prices of food in Mississippi are rising due to inflation and disruptions in supply chains, and the state is now offering a resource for residents to find local farmers' markets and agritourism sites.
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A map of all Mississippi certified farmers' markets and agrotourism/u-picks
It is the middle of the summer grow season in Mississippi, and farmers are hauling their crops to local markets.
“Well if you come to a farmers market, you’re actually buying from a farmer who grew the produce and supporting local agriculture,” says Tim Cooper of Cooper’s Farms and Vineyards. He is one of several vendors at the Mississippi Farmers Market.
Rising inflation rates and continued disruptions in supply chains have contributed to rising food costs in Mississippi. And Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson says local food suppliers can help.
“You can go just about anywhere in your neighborhood and find a local Mississippi farmers market,” says Gipson. “We have a certified farmers market program where we know it’s Mississippi raised. This is the time to [buy produce]. Don’t wait til’ the crops are gone, go buy today and plan ahead for the winter.”
Vendors at farmers' markets sell produce, butchered meat, and artisanal goods.
The state is also ramping up meat inspections, and Gipson says USDA processing capacity is tripling across the state.
Gipson says “That makes us independent. It makes us more resilient as a state against these supply chain interruptions that are happening in the midwest when a plant burns down. We can process meat here. We can process our food here in the State of Mississippi.”
