>I am told that other farmers markets are sponsored by
> something such as the Chamber of Commerce. When this is the case, the market
> is often not as focused on organics, I have heard. (?)
This happened in our agricultural community of Watsonville. The Chamber of
Commerce wanted to have the Farmers' Market on Thursday night as that was
when the local large department store was open late. The farmers pleaded,
citing the fact that they were at a Farmers' Market that afternoon in
Monterey, about 30 minutes away, making it a tough day if they went to both
Markets. The C o C didn't care, went ahead, and alienated nearly all the
organic farmers around. That market folded as the result of diminished
customers afer an earthquake ruined our downtown in 1989.
A new Farmers' Market, also not organized by organic farmers but commercial
interests, has only two stalls (out of about fifteen) that are organic.
Sad, but unless organic farmers (or member organizations supporting them)
begin joining the C o C and attending meetings and getting on committees
and somehow wresting some of the decision making away, this will probably
continue.
In the next large community up, Santa Cruz, a Farmers' Market there is
organized differently through the city, (not the C o C) and has probably
90% organic of about 35 stalls. That market has been going for ten years,
while our new baby is only two years old.
The fee for a stall there is $30, while ours is $15. Vendors can only sell
what they grow or produce. Both markets have sections for things like
bread, jams, salsa, and cheese. We have a dynamo woman how manages three of
the regional Farmers' Markets and assists others in getting going.
> I am interested in the support for farmers markets. I wonder if you all
> could tell me who is responsible for the farmers markets that you
> participate in, whether it be an organization, or a town. Is there a fee to
> participate or guidelines to what venders can sell? Is there a general
> farmers market organization of some sort that helps start markets in new
> areas?
seaseal@got.net
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