Roadside produce stands: the last enclave of social trust
One of the more dystopian aspects of modern life is that in nearly every major American city, you cannot simply walk into a convenience store to buy something. Instead, you often have to ring a small bell and wait for a clerk to come unlock your tube of toothpaste or bottle of shampoo from behind a glass case. This is considered normal, even sensible, in a cultural moment where social trust hovers around a record low. One place this doesn’t feel normal, however, is at America’s many local farm stands. The roadside farm stand emerged in the early 20th century as automobiles became more widespread. Traditionally, farmers would set up small tables or wagons to sell surplus produce, eggs and dairy goods to passersby.
