The Honor System
I remember seeing honor system/self-service boxes like this at roadside produce stands in East Texas when I was younger:
http://blogs.houstonpress.com/eating/2009/07/honor_system.php
But haven't seen one in years, now that I think of it. Do these still exist in your neck of the woods?
Add a comment:
Previewing your comment:
HTML Hints
Some HTML is OK: <a href="URL">link</a>, <strong>strong</strong>, <em>em</em>
Comment Guidelines
Post whatever you want, just keep it seriously about eats, seriously. We reserve the right to delete off-topic or inflammatory comments. Learn more at our Comment Policy page.
If you see something not so nice, please, report an inappropriate comment.
Start Talking!
Need a question answered? Have advice to share? Start a Talk topic now!
Sign up to get your questions answered and share advice.
22 Comments:
They're alive and well in Northern NY and somewhat in Central NY. In some of the outskirts of the northern 'burbs of Syracuse there are honor stands full of fresh produce. One trend I've noticed is instead of a basket to throw your $ into, they instead have a slotted box with a padlock mounted to a tree or fixed board. I grew up in Northern NY and return often during the summer--especially to go camping in the Adirondacks. We often stop along our way there for fresh sweet corn, tomatoes and berries at honor stands. The other kind of honor stand we stop at is for camp fire wood. The camp grounds ask that you not bring wood in from outside the local area so that you don't bring in insects, etc. that are not native to the landscape. And we know who has seasoned hard wood in the area and who's selling green wood. I love that there are still people out there who are honest and also that there are folks that trust that their hard work will not be stolen.
dhorst at 7:09PM on 07/14/09
Oh yeah. I see them all over here in MI and they were popular in Northern Indiana too.
I see the most near the lake during the summer, and lots for squash season in the fall too.
Ours also have almost exclusively locked and slotted boxes, usually affixed to a pole or table so they cannot be stolen.
I love them, and stop whenever I can. I have gotten some great deals on really good (or rare) produce, and I can always count on them for zucchini, squash, corn and tomatoes. Many have fruits too. I wish they were more popular, and that people would be more honorable, as some have stopped setting anything out due to stealing.
sadiepix at 7:58PM on 07/14/09
They're still around in Cleveland along the roadside.
Cassaendra at 8:21PM on 07/14/09
I've seen them here in northern alabama and I also saw one outside tuscon where they were selling nuts.
huneybumper at 8:39PM on 07/14/09
here in the hudson valley there are still honor system farm stands around, it's great. i believe one stand had their box tampered with....too bad. but for the most part i think it works out very well.
pooch at 9:17PM on 07/14/09
Yup, I live by a farm stand on a small country road outside of Pittsburgh that operates on the honor system. In Deep Creek Lake, Maryland there is a hut that sells firewood and worms on an honor system.
GinaPet at 9:33PM on 07/14/09
For very early season asparagus, way before they are ready to open up the store, my favorite farmer uses a coffee can with a cut plastic lid. The asparagus are bundled up, and standing in water & the price per bundle is shown. Dollars go into the can.
Now, once the store opens up, they have finally figured out how to take plastic. Veggies, fruits, pies & cheese & other treats -- that early spring tease just keeps me loyal.
whoot at 10:37PM on 07/14/09
Lancaster County PA, and back roads of Lower Delaware.
JerzeeTomato at 11:00PM on 07/14/09
Funny you mention this. At Harry's Farmer's Market (Whole Foods) here in ATL, there is an honor box for coffee! This is a long-established store that you may have seen if you watch Good Eats because Alton is always in their produce dept.
When WF bought Wild Oats, that's one of the things that changed - you couldn't grab coffee and pay for it on the way out anymore. The Honor Box at the coffee station at Harry's is a blessing because I don't want to visit 2 checkouts on one shopping trip.
There are honor boxes in parking lots in Tampa as well. Those are strange - you have to fold the money so small to get it in a slot.
therealchiffonade at 5:56AM on 07/15/09
These are very common in the rural bits of the UK. My last landlords kept bees, and would sell fresh pure honey by the jar...they'd put a stack of them outside on a folding table, and put a plate out to leave the money in. They'd also sell fruit and veg they'd grown. Lots of people sell cut flowers, wrapped in bouquets.
NotAmerican at 7:27AM on 07/15/09
They are here in N. Calif. Right outside of my town there is a small, U-pick self serve, organic farm that plants year around. They simply put a sign up displaying what is ripe. I've been taking my daughter out to pick berries every weekend. Although she often eats more than she picks ;)
GrimChef at 12:03PM on 07/15/09
Yes, there are plenty in Albany County.
Kerosena at 1:50PM on 07/15/09
They are all over south Jersey on the way through Cumberland and Cape May Counties. Around here in southeastern Pa (near Philly) you will see lots of kids manning their own stands as well as honor boxes. There's an elderly fellow down the street that puts out his extra tomatoes and I am stalking his house daily now that it is close to tomatoes ripening.
janaatwg at 7:56PM on 07/15/09
These stories are so heartwarming! On Halloween, when I have to go out, I leave a bowl of candy bags on the front step, and people are so paranoid they're always amazed a single group of kids don't take them all.
I live in suburban NJ, though!
HeartofGlass at 9:24AM on 07/16/09
Plenty of them here in Southeastern Ontario - selling honey, fruits and veggies, jam, pies even (especially in berry season). I love those local stands!
Maureen at 10:13AM on 07/16/09
I see them all the time up in Connecticut and just saw plenty of them on the North Fork of Long Island. So darling.
laurelie at 12:31PM on 07/16/09
Went to one in Hillsdale, NY a few weeks ago. Very nicely done- dozens of different jarred pickles, jams, salsas, honey, plus frozen meats, cheese, eggs, milk, butter,... etc. And not only did they have a locked, slotted box that you could put money in, they even had a credit card machine (!) with instructions telling you how to swipe your card, print a receipt, and sign it, then just drop that in the lockbox.
mr guy at 2:57PM on 07/17/09
I just bought two pints of raspberries at the stand nearest us. The farmer was sitting under an umbrella with a friend and some cool beverages (it's hot here - 81*). She had kale, sugar snaps, herb starts, some bedding plants, and cut flowers. The lavender farm had bunches for sale today - but D was driving too fast to stop. Tomorrow.
islandexile at 7:58PM on 07/17/09
Lots of honour boxes here at farm gates in Northumberland County & Prince Edward County (Ontario Canada)
gharris at 8:51PM on 07/17/09
Oh, sure! The Catskills in NY are full of them. I've got zucchini 5 minutes by bike in one direction and corn five minutes in the other. And after the corn, apples. Big folding tables with a coffee can for cash.
A friend recently discovered a local honor shack sporting homemade gouda! I'm DYING to visit that one!!
missbhavens at 3:30AM on 07/18/09
I know of one about 30 west of Boston
goodcooker at 8:01AM on 07/18/09
Here is one in San Jose, California: J&P Farm
Paula Maack at 3:21PM on 07/18/09