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Subject: Market Farming
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- From: "Wiediger, Alison" <awiediger AT HART.k12.ky.us>
- To: 'market farming' <market-farming AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
- Subject: Farmers' markets cont.
- Date: Wed, 7 Feb 2001 09:20:15 -0600
Another argument for producers only : it encourages innovation. If we bring
vine-ripened tomatoes to the market 4-5 weeks ahead of field ripened (and we
do), we should get a premium price for that product. Instead, at our
market, at least 50% of the vendors will have stacks (that they can be
stacked tells you a lot about quality) of red tomatoes that they have
purchased. It makes our task very difficult to identify our product as LOCAL
and SUPERIOR when everyone has red tomatoes. Ditto anything we take to
market that is unusual, out of season, etc. So, there is no incentive to be
innovative in growing or marketing. I have watched farmers come to the
market with what they can grow, watch the crowds around the peddlers, and
literally the next week show up with a pickup load of boxed produce from the
closest wholesaler. Oh, and as for freshness, none of these pinhookers have
a refrigerated truck, or refrigeration at their homes. Can you imagine how
'unfresh' that produce is ? I know, preaching to the choir, but the whole
topic incenses me!
Alison Wiediger
Alison Wiediger, Technician
Hart County Schools
awiediger AT hart.k12.ky.us
- Farmers' markets cont., Wiediger, Alison, 02/07/2001
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