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Subject: Market Farming

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Chronological Thread  
  • From: Petersons <petersns AT mail.whidbey.com>
  • To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: political groups at market
  • Date: Sun, 11 Feb 2001 12:56:17 -0800


Our market is working on policies now and this issue concerns me: In the past we have had various political or community or religious groups come through our Saturday market with petitions. We've had non-profits who want to do fund-raisers at the market.
I found the petitions annoying as a vendor because customers were distracted from our produce. As a community member I understand that the market is a great place to contact a lot of people at once. I've been to markets (as a customer) where groups like these have their own booths (less disruptive for individual vendors), and I found it a pleasant mix in the market. I'm not sure I would have liked it if they had been groups I strongly disagreed with.
I have some concerns about non-profits using the market as a place to raise money especially if they sell baked goods that directly compete with member vendors.
One of our sponsoring organization's members feels we are restricting freedom of speech if we don't allow these groups in our "public space."
This particular market is held on land owned by a non-profit group dedicated to promoting sustainable, ecological, socially equitable agriculture.

What is you experience with this issue at your markets?




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