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market-farming - Re: Peddlers at Markets

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  • From: "Chapman-Dale" <chapdale AT bluemarble.net>
  • To: "market farming" <market-farming AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Re: Peddlers at Markets
  • Date: Wed, 7 Feb 2001 11:39:10 -0600


I'm sorry everytime i hear about markets failing or not thriving due to
'peddlers'. Though i 'cut my teeth' as a market vendor at a 'purist'
market(i.e. only producer grown), and appreciated the challenges and fruits
of working on such an 'even' playing field, I've since also begun selling at
'Indiana grown ' markets.
I think this list sometimes goes into a '1 minded think' about issues,
tending in a purist slant- I understand this, and even agree most of the
time, but i think it's dangerous to be so radicalized that we can't accept
or work with other systems that view compromise as an answer.
The 2 other markets i sell at allow any products that are grown in this
state, i.e. you can wholesale products from other in state producers. I
fought this at both of these markets, preferring the simplicity and fairness
of a producer-only market, but i lost both battles hands-down (mine was the
only one up...) These are good markets, many vendors, many patrons. I
still remain a producer only vendor, but i can't say that the
'peddlers/wholesalers' are deleteriously harming these markets- they DO add
abit of variety to the market, which attracts more consumers. It DOES make
the market masters job much more confusing and hair splitting, trying to
determine if a vendor has only 20% wholesaled material to their 80% producer
grown product (the one concession i 'won').
I wouldn't say this is the system i'd ever enthusiastically vote for,
but it is workable, involves alot of compromise and can get a little market
that's starting up, up and running strong. Fight reasonably and with
committment, but compromise with grace.

Linda Chapman
Spencer, Ind






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