New Farmers Market - How tightly regulated?
This is the 3rd year of our town's only Farmer's Market. The two directors/organizers are running it their way, based on their research of successful markets. Only organic is allowed. Only one person can sell eggs. Only one person can sell lavender, etc. There is only one food vendor. This is not like any farmer's market I've been to. Am I missing something?
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That seems excessively strict... My local market requires all goods/products come from within 50 miles of the market, and farmers have to sell their own products. I only know of a few vendors who can call their products organic, though others are "almost organic" or "earth friendly" conventional. There are limits on the number of non-food and prepared food vendors, but there are still several of each. There are a few farms that specialize in 1 crop, but most offer a variety. Competition (mostly friendly) is alive and well - a few years ago there was one farm selling asparagus. They we mobbed every week during the short asparagus season. Other farmers noticed the popularity of asparagus and started plantings, suddenly this spring there were other asparagus options!
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You are missing out, if that's how yours is run. None of the 3 I frequent have exclusive anything. All of the organic vendors are organized together, and they have special signage. The non-organic vendors are in another area - and there are quite a few of them, too. And I love the variety of food vendors (pie makers, bread bakers, taco / quesadilla vendors (2), bbq sellers). A little competition is a good thing.
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