----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, February 15, 2001 5:01
PM
Subject: [market-farming] update on N
Miss. farmers market plans & WIC Farmers Market
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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