Supermarket vs. Farmers market: a comparative analysis

Abstract

Vegetable products are part of a balanced diet regardless of the consumer's age. Their diversity and the options offered for marketing multiply the factors considered when purchasing them. Through the present study we analyzed three vegetable products widely distributed and consumed by all population groups (potatoes, tomatoes and spinach). Supermarket products and similar products from a farmers market were selected, and the indicators analyzed were pH, acidity and the content of nitrite, phosphate, iron and copper ions. Differences were observed between the two categories of products, in the sense that those purchased from the farmers market had a higher content of dry matter, but also high values for the analyzed ions, which denotes the application of fertilization and foliar treatments to increase production. The highest values, compared to data from the literature, of the phosphate content were recorded in farmers market potatoes (20.62 mg P/100 g), for nitrite, in farmers market spinach (7.23 mg/100 g), and as for iron and copper ions, all products exceeded the values provided in the literature.