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  • From: Thamnophis <thamnophis AT gmail.com>
  • To: Market Farming <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Disappointing Phoenix farmers markets
  • Date: Wed, 29 Dec 2010 22:10:15 -0600

David -

That is very good to hear. Interesting how some of the response to my
initial query was "Go start your own market", when, in my opinion,
that is exactly what the brokers/wholesalers should be told.

I'll say again - Markets that allow brokers are undermining all our
futures by undermining the value-add of local food, local grown. The
benefits of local food should include knowing (and trusting) your
producers to use sustainable methods, grow good tasting food rather
than good shipping/storing food, supporting local business, rural
development, etc.

None of these things happen when brokers sell their Mexican produce at
the market. So I am very happy to see vendors were able to make that
change, with the help of concerned customers - may it be the beginning
of the end for brokers at Farmer's Markets!

Joe

On 12/29/10, David Ruble <bigruble AT hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> First a disclaimer about my business - I've failed twice now as an urban
> farmer and have become a home-based baker for a local market.
>
> Next (in regards to this discussion) - I sell my bread through a local
> market organizer, The Market Umbrella, in Richmond, Virginia. They manage
> three or four markets throughout the year. Next year their most succesful
> market of the four will transition to being a purely vendor grown, vendor
> made, and hand made market. This is causing a lot of grief for a very small
> set of growers who grow some of their produce but resale quite a bit of
> other produce. This move has been influenced from two fronts - (1) growers
> who are dedicated to bringing local in-season produce to market who were
> upset with resellers and (2) market customers who were in disbelief at the
> timing of some of the produce that was coming to market.
>
> This years vendor application is letting folks know now that this is how the
> main market will operate, but variances will be granted to exisiting CSAs
> who do some resell of produce. Next year will be different, and the market
> managers are being strict in their adherance to having 75% grower/food
> vendors and 25% crafts & prepared foods (food carts, coffee tents, etc.)
> vendors at the market. This market currently has over 80 vendors during the
> peak of the sunmer season.
>
> The other three markets that are managed by The Market Umbrella strive to be
> homegrown, homemade, and/or handmade, but exceptions will still be granted
> while those markets grow into maturity.
>
> I liked the idea of having signage stating your produce was grown yourself -
> it definately generates conversation from the customers. In my case, folks
> ask, "Did you bake all this yourself?", "Yes, I did." "How big is your
> oven?!", "It's a standard home oven."
>
> Regards,
>
> David of Tater Daves
>
>
>
>
> Date: Wed, 29 Dec 2010 12:56:51 -0500
> From: idyllwildfarm AT gmail.com
> To: market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
> Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Disappointing Phoenix farmers markets
>
> This Fall, I put out a small sign, maybe 3in X 4in, that simply stated that
> we grow what we sell.
> The customer reaction was interesting; many observed that if I was saying
> that, there must be
> "growers" who didn't. I didn't get into big discussions about it or finger
> anyone (most of the customers,
> once it was pointed out there was a sell what you bought contingent, guessed
> on their own). Point
> made. The challenge for me was articulating my suspicions using facts, not
> feelings.
>
>
> However, what if it turns out that most of the people who attend my market
> don't care if they're buying
> from the grower or want to be able to buy just about anything once a week in
> their neighborhood?
> Then, it's incumbent on me to make sure the people who want it know that
> I've got it or if necessary
> leave an established market that's a free for all for better pastures- or a
> market that requires labeling at a minimum.
>
>
> To me, this discussion applies to how vendors handle the organic or
> sustainable question at markets
> when they imply NOP compliance or shades of NOP compliance without evidence.
> What is fascinating
> to me is how the most strident consumer advocate suspends disbelief at
> farmers markets. It is also hilarious
> that the people who run the market who let vendors mislead customers trust
> those same vendors to give
> them a reliable sales figure to base their market fee...
> Regards,
> Mike
> Idyllwild Farm
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