June 24, 2009... Like hundreds of other Oregon agricultural producers, John Zielinski is ready for
another busy season of selling fresh, local food products grown on his own farm to a steady stream of
devoted customers. But he never has to leave his own property. Farm stands, also known as roadside
stands, share with farmers' markets the direct sale of locally grown food by the people who produce it.
There is no middleman as there is with retail stores or restaurants. How do they differ from farmers'
markets? Instead of the farm going to the consumer, the consumer comes to the farm.

"People like having access to so many local items in one location and having a chance to meet the
people who grow the food they eat," says Zielinski, whose family-owned E.Z. Orchards Farm Market in
the Salem area offers a variety of products including apples, peaches, pears, and berries. "The majority of
products we sell come from our own farm or other local farms, so the people who visit our farm market
often compliment us on the freshness of the produce. People also express their appreciation for our farm
and market being family-owned and operated."