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Farmers in Western Australia's south have credited "extremely honest" consumers with the rise in unattended roadside produce stalls across the region.
Key points:
- Farm stall owners report very minimal theft from their unattended produce stands
- More roadside stalls have been set up in recent years on WA's south coast
- Farmers say small communities promote honesty
Over the past few years, the number of unattended farm stalls set up near Denmark has grown substantially.
These stalls range from small tables of pumpkins to full stalls featuring an abundance of produce, all reliant on customers adhering to the honour system, rather than pinching the readily available goods.
Whether it is in the form of a black tin box to put in notes and coins, or bank details plastered onto signs, producers count on the honesty of costumers to make profit.
The Laing family set up their stall about 15 years ago, and sell fresh produce, eggs, books, and even timber pieces.
Nick Laing runs the timber side of business, sourcing his product from the Forest Product Commission.
Some timber pieces go for hundreds of dollars, and Mr Laing says the honesty system has worked.
"[People have been] extremely honest; I don't think I've ever had anything pinched probably for about five years," he said.
"I think I'm rather unique. I don't I don't know of anyone else in Australia that [sells roadside timber]."
"I probably sold about ... 300 pieces last year, so I guess that's a reasonable stream."
Mr Laing initially was not expecting the roadside stall to be as successful as it has been, with the timber section making up a third of his total income.
Why are people honest?
Down the road is a smaller vegetable stall, selling a range of produce, but specialising in organic avocados when they are in season.
Sheree Webb moved to the property in 2021, and since setting up the stall, she has never dealt with theft.
She puts that town to the affordability of produce, and community aspect where people want to support each other.
"It's a small town, it's a small community ... and I think also the produce isn't that expensive," she said.
"There's a lot of little farm stalls [in Denmark], and I think it's just a really beautiful thing."
Ms Webb notes the stalls cut out the middleman, making it more affordable for consumers.
"When you compare the price of an avocado, I've seen them from $3.99 to $5, to sometimes $6 for biodynamic organic," she said.
"Ours are $2.50, or $3 if they're huge, fat, creamy, late-harvest ones."
Although these farm stalls are not the main source of income for most producers, it counts enough for Ms Webb to pay the family grocery bill.