Healthy soil and sustainable growing

[Emery Mitchamore <emitch@att.net>]

Good points.  Of course, Pollan is really trying to influence things on a large scale, when each situation really needs a solution that is more local.  I'd imagine that some towns have unused public buildings that could be used for farmers' markets without the problems you mention.  A nearby city, Georgetown, TX, has a park with buildings near downtown that they're trying to use, not for winter, but for summer, when the farmers are producing, but it's too hot for shoppers.

 

On Dec 15, 2009, at 10:13 PM, Tradingpost wrote:

Mitch, I wouldn't make much of this except I'm a market grower and passionate about what works for small growers and our customers. Pollan says so much good stuff I hate to take exception. To some extent I have to agree, you don't make the perfect the enemy of the possible. Mark's post is accurate on where Pollan stops short of dealing with the root of the problem IMHO. But the part that caught my attention was

the best things that Obama could do would be build 12-month farmers

markets, especially in inner cities˜that could be your legacy, those

beautiful glass buildings you see in Barcelona or Reading Terminal Market

in Philadelphia. This would be a wonderful way to make farmers markets a

central part of these communities. It would drive economic development and

local agriculture.

As a solution to drive the kind of produce selling and buying he promotes, bad idea.

I don't expect Pollan to be familiar with the economics of farmers markets. Indoor year round market facilities drive out the smaller growers, the backbone of farmers markets over the country. The reason is in the financing. When you look at the cost of these buildings and parking lots and the utility bills for year round occupancy, somebody financing them (city or investors) has to justify the expense with sufficient revenue from stall fees and/or parking fees (unless the Feds can print money to waste billions on them). That requires high margin products, value added likely, which simple produce growers don't have. They have to keep them full of paying vendors every day year round - which throws the doors open to crafts, big farm non-local produce, and processed foods. Few small growers can afford the time to sell every day and still work the farm. Not to mention how few can harvest and sell in winter.

From experience I've seen what happens to that kind of market management, and we will not sell at such mismanaged markets. They fail to attract enough customers. Why bother with the market when you can get the same stuff at flea markets or Whole Paycheck? It waters down the whole purpose of a farmers market and people pick up on that. You lose customers who are looking for a wide choice of fresh unprocessed produce.

An interesting example which appears to contradict me is the famous Santa Fe market which we've visited a few times http://www.santafefarmersmarket.com/ .  But no. In fact, the winter market only uses the building on Saturdays - hardly a year round market at all. Actually the indoor market planned revenue payback by including office rentals in the new building, and it allows outdoor seasonal vendors alongside the building. Both tactics help justify the financing - which was considerable, $4.6 million. But the main thing is the nonprofit Santa Fe Farmers Market Institute (page not updated since construction) http://www.santafefarmersmarket.com/institute/ . No small matter; it's the brains and money behind the market. But of course, it's Santa Fe. Don't even think of trying that in Albuquerque.


paul tradingpost@lobo.net

*********** REPLY SEPARATOR  ***********

On 12/15/2009 at 2:01 PM Emery Mitchamore wrote:

Well, I read it, but didn't find your issue.  Tell.

On Dec 15, 2009, at 12:54 PM, Tradingpost wrote:

Have any issues with this? I have.

Michael Pollan Fixes Dinner

America's favorite food intellectual talks about ethanol, the carrot

lobby, and secularizing food.

http://motherjones.com/environment/2009/03/michael-pollan-fixes-dinner-extended-interview

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E. E. "Mitch"  Mitchamore

www.hillcountrynatives.biz