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  • From: Thamnophis <thamnophis AT gmail.com>
  • To: Market Farming <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Disappointing Phoenix farmers markets
  • Date: Wed, 29 Dec 2010 17:21:06 -0600

I should clarify - I was just visiting Phoenix. I live in central Iowa.

What I noticed is that with vendors reselling their is no incentive
for local farmers to expand or innovate. The vendors buying bulk at
the local wholesaler can almost always bring in better looking produce
for less than what it takes to grow locally.

So instead of growers investing in high-tunnels, irrigation, etc.,
they give up. And the whole "local" movement, with all the good things
it brings, is gone.

I got knocked for suggesting we "may" need gov't oversight. I was
suggesting, for example, a rule requiring labeling of food origin, and
the threat, at least, of an inspection. I feel it may be needed
because I see and hear of too many market managers who play favorites
- their buddies get a free ride while others do not.

That too, will kill a market if not kept in check.

My personal feeling is that anything calling itself a "farmer's
market" should be 100% local, and the vendor must be the grower or
immediate family member.

Joe

On 12/29/10, Todd Lister <toddlister1 AT gmail.com> wrote:
> Every market is in a different environment. We sell at a market that is in a
> college town. Hence, strictly local, sustainably grown and 100% vendor
> produced when it comes to produce, honey, meats, flowers, eggs. The place is
> fairly tight. Of course somebody will always stretch it or cheat for the $
> in any situation. It's hard to enforce this rule on prepared foods, baked
> goods, locally roasted yet imported coffee beans
>
> On Wed, Dec 29, 2010 at 5:08 PM, idyllwild farm
> <idyllwildfarm AT gmail.com>wrote:
>
>> Couple of quick points.
>> I agree that if the buyers don't care, there's no point in having a
>> "discussion" about tightening the rules. At Richard & my market, no
>> one has a good read on it, so this was the first year we limited what
>> you could bring in to 3 items, as long as they were labeled as such.
>> It was mentioned but other than the "grower" who got kicked out the
>> labeling rule wasn't strickly enforced; but I"m ok with a gradual
>> approach as long as it happens (we do have other growers who want it
>> to be grow what you sell, yesterday).
>>
>> Second, it's important to remember that we call these things farmers
>> markets (that was one thing that Massachusetts recognized early on-
>> when I sold there in the 90's). If it's a free for all, it reduces the
>> incentive to push production barriers- if a reseller sees I have
>> belgium endive for good $$ and sales, then all they have to do is buy
>> it the following week and undercut me, that's not a fair market. I
>> also believe it cheapens the brand (farmers market), to have people
>> selling bananas, mangoes, etc. along with the more believable stuff,
>> even at a Winter Market.
>> Ironically, we usually limit the focus of our discussion to produce
>> resellers, but Richard is right, our focus on locally grown should
>> broaden to include ingredients used by producers at the market. I see
>> some simple process where they could list three sources they've
>> contacted for local ingredients before acquiring from outside the
>> "region". (But I have the NOP seed sourcing requirment on my
>> brain...).
>> HNY,
>> Mike
>>
>> On 12/29/10, Richard Stewart <rstewart AT zoomtown.com> wrote:
>> > Mike and I sell at the same farmers' market and we observe some odd
>> things.
>> > I'll admit that I am far more tolerant of some of it than he is,
>> especially
>> > during the offseason when fresh produce is hard to come by if you do not
>> > have growers operating high tunnels or greenhouses.
>> >
>> > My season extension is honey, grains, and dried herbs. Mike has stopped
>> for
>> > the season and I continue and I can say that there are at least three
>> > resellers attending our market. One of them lets the public know it is
>> > resold and offers it (organic produce and fruit) up along with items
>> > that
>> > they produce (eggs and meat).
>> >
>> > I walk a thin line. As a grower that sells 100% self-produced items I
>> rub a
>> > little raw at those that do not. I also understand that if the buyers
>> could
>> > not get everything they wanted at the market they MAY shop elsewhere.
>> The
>> > market is a one stop shop, but its also has a lot of good solid growers
>> and
>> > producers (artisan bakers...the real deal and fermented food and drinks
>> and
>> > chocolates and the like).
>> >
>> > I guess the question is, are the growers and the buyers both equally
>> happy
>> > with the market. Mike and I may differ in opinion about our
>> market...maybe
>> > not.
>> >
>> > Richard Stewart
>> > Carriage House Farm
>> > North Bend, Ohio
>> >
>> > An Ohio Century Farm Est. 1855
>> >
>> > (513) 967-1106
>> > http://www.carriagehousefarmllc.com
>> > rstewart AT zoomtown.com
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