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market-farming - update on N Miss. farmers market plans & WIC Farmers Market

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Subject: Market Farming

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  • From: "nan and stewart" <stewart AT watervalley.net>
  • To: "market farming" <market-farming AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: update on N Miss. farmers market plans & WIC Farmers Market
  • Date: Thu, 15 Feb 2001 18:01:25 -0500

HI friends, this is in reference to a proposed "farmers market" in n. miss.....this is nan, who wrote in that the initial group of folks voted to allow resale of regular wholesale produce (from Calif., etc.) along with what the person grew locally.....
 
I printed out a good handful of the 125 plus messages sent by growers about the dangers of this practice, and other advice (I frankly was overwhelmed with how EVERYONE agreed, local only.....it was a no brainer to me, too, but had no idea how badly growers had been hurt in markets where that was ignored in the interest of "variety" or whatever.)
 
anyway, i felt obligated to communicate these views as having alot of weight (you all have been there and done that) to the sub committee I joined......and I brought in materials from ATTRA and from another farmers market in n. miss. (which, by the way, the extension staff said, was local only and that was the ONLY way to go!!!  they were very supportive)
 
still, folks are saying, well, we have to abide by the democratic vote of the majority of people at the first meeting....i pointed out that the first meeting was just a group gathered to talk about it in general, and no one had done any research on farmers markets (except me, from my own experiences in massachusettts, etc.)....so they voted not based on considering all the information.  Whether they planned to participate or not, they got to vote their opinion and i shouldn't question the will of the majority......
 
in fact, i think the people who organized the first meeting are now seeing me as a stumbling block and that i am in danger of "ruining everything....(just so you know, i am usually a cheerful, extroverted personality and love working with public, lest you think i am a curmudgeon...)
 
"we just want to have a farmers market and not worry about these kinds of things, or have to have any meetings, or turn anyone away......"
 
well, maybe i am just to adamant about this to be the one to communicate effectively (get too emotional and am counterproductive???)...I urged the group to invite the successful farmers market guy to come talk, and they did agree to do that (although I suspect that no matter what he says, the facilitators don't want to undo the "will of the majority" and disrespect those who came to the first meeting (i do appreciate that folks came to the first meeting and expressed alot of interest)
 
so, since i am just getting started myself and don't have alot of time to put into organizing, i passed the buck to one of the folks who volunteered to be on the logistics committee.
 
i should mention that i am not a southerner, and maybe am perceived as an "outsider" so no matter what i say, it doesn't have alot of weight, and folks feel defensive if i am critical of something..
 
sorry to ramble, but i also just came from a meeting with Dept of Health, MS Dept of Ag and MS WIC program about the WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program where local folks are yelling at us for not letting them buy bananas with their $14 WIC produce coupon, and the local peddler (who has a permament shop in town - this is the delta, not my area) is furious that she can't take the WIC coupons for oranges from California, kiwis from Peru, etc....
 
sometimes I feel like noboby "gets it" about local farmers. I know you guys have similar struggles but do people get really mad at you when you try to explain to the general public why it is important to support any local food economy that exists, however fledgling?  
 
I do point out that we have a wonderful independent book store in oxford, but should they be required to also set up a computer terminal for Amazon.com just so folks can have it all.....
 
i am struggling for a way to communicate to folks that won't alienate folks and yet doesn't whimp out for the sake of compromise...for now, i have decided to take a back seat since it stirs so many emotions in me (not saying that some of it isn't my own issues to address, please understand)
 
anyway, thanks for listening....my skin is pretty thin tonight!
 
nan J.
dancing goats farm
water valley, ms



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