Famers Market Alliance http://www.seattlefarmersmarkets.org/ , a
community based organization that supports seven of the Neighborhood
Farmers Markets in Seattle, it became very clear, very fast, what she
saw the organization’s main goal to be, “It is all about the farmers.
They are heroes and we need to treat them like gold.”
community based organization that supports seven of the Neighborhood
Farmers Markets in Seattle, it became very clear, very fast, what she
saw the organization’s main goal to be, “It is all about the farmers.
They are heroes and we need to treat them like gold.”
This attitude is central to the vision of the “producer only”
markets that NFMA manages, in which farmers direct sell their produce
to shoppers, earning the full dollar value of their farm products.
Being that the NFMA’s markets help more than 100 of the region’s
small, diverse farms stay in business, it isn’t surprising that the
mission of this organization is to keep the markets about the food.
Quite diplomatically, Chris explained to us how their seven markets,
which originated with the University District market, differ from
others in Seattle that sell items like crafts, flowers and cotton
candy. By keeping the focus on food, the markets can continue to
support both the consumer and farmers interests to buy and sell fresh,
local food.
markets that NFMA manages, in which farmers direct sell their produce
to shoppers, earning the full dollar value of their farm products.
Being that the NFMA’s markets help more than 100 of the region’s
small, diverse farms stay in business, it isn’t surprising that the
mission of this organization is to keep the markets about the food.
Quite diplomatically, Chris explained to us how their seven markets,
which originated with the University District market, differ from
others in Seattle that sell items like crafts, flowers and cotton
candy. By keeping the focus on food, the markets can continue to
support both the consumer and farmers interests to buy and sell fresh,
local food.
It was remarkable to hear Chris describe her journey in this business
that began in 1993 when she quit her job in search of working towards
something that she was passionate about. After visiting farmers
markets in California that valued the local farmers, Chris and a few
dedicated volunteered spent countless hours to bring those type of
markets to the neighborhoods of Seattle.
that began in 1993 when she quit her job in search of working towards
something that she was passionate about. After visiting farmers
markets in California that valued the local farmers, Chris and a few
dedicated volunteered spent countless hours to bring those type of
markets to the neighborhoods of Seattle.
Chris still remembers the very first day of the initial market in the
U District. She recalls the 17 farmers that set up that morning, and
that she was expecting, at the most 150 consumers to show up. At the
end of the day, 800 consumers had visited the market, proving the need
for fresh and local produce in Seattle. So how has NFMA kept their
organization about the farmers after all of these years? This has been
accomplished by including several local farmers on the organization’s
Board of Directors, actively requesting feedback from farmers
regarding NFMA policies and continuously working to build
relationships between staff and farmers.
U District. She recalls the 17 farmers that set up that morning, and
that she was expecting, at the most 150 consumers to show up. At the
end of the day, 800 consumers had visited the market, proving the need
for fresh and local produce in Seattle. So how has NFMA kept their
organization about the farmers after all of these years? This has been
accomplished by including several local farmers on the organization’s
Board of Directors, actively requesting feedback from farmers
regarding NFMA policies and continuously working to build
relationships between staff and farmers.
Nice Sam! I was also really inspired by this interview. Especially when she talked about how starting these markets basically allowed the local food movement to take place. She is incredible considering what she has accomplished, creating the first farmers market movement in Seattle. Her passion and humility will continue to inspire me.
ReplyDeleteElise
I know there are farmer's markets all over town, so was interested to see that the NFMA were associated with seven. Are the others independent or are they associated with another org?
ReplyDeleteAfter meeting with Chris, what is your opinion of food-only farmer's markets vs. the ones with items other than food?
Your stories are like following a trail of breadcrumbs...how interesting!
ReplyDeleteFarmer's Markets are fascinating studies in fundamental capitalism--one of my fondest memories from farming was working markets and interacting with all of my customers. However, like all things, it is much more complicated than what it may seem at first glance. I wont get into it here, but if you all are in the food class, it'll come up in the piece on local food systems.
ReplyDeleteGreat job Sam!
Thanks for Sharing Sam. I am very interested in Farmers Markets and the effect on the farmers. As part of my job, I have been visiting San Diego's farmers markets. There are currently ~40, with new ones being opened regularly, and others closing. I have been to around 25 of SD's markets and several in LA.
ReplyDeleteStrictly as a consumer, I can look at a FM as a way to support local agriculture. If there is not one in my neighborhood, I could advocate for one.
I have a much different perspective on FM's though. As consumers advocate for new FM's, farmers frequently suffer. Without, widespread, sustained consumer support, growers make less income at each market. In SD, we have over 6,000 farms, the highest number of any county in the country. Only 300 of them are certified to sell at farmers' markets, but far less than that actually exercise that right. I estimate that only 10% of SD's certified growers, ~30, sell at farmers markets. With such a small number taking advantage of that market, it would be expected that they would thrive. Such is not the case. 1/2 the growers at SD FM's are from hundreds of miles away, near Fresno.
(to be continued)
Additionally, as new markets open due to consumer demand, growers must evaluate the potential impact upon the FM's they already sell at. Last year, less than 30 FM's existed in SD. This year we approach 40. An increase of 33%. Unless consumer dollars spent reflects FM growth, growers will have a lower income. I do not believe that consumers are coming anywhere close to holding up their end of the bargain.
ReplyDeleteTo capture as much of the consumer dollar as possible, growers have a few options:
Buy more trucks and hire more employees to attend more FM's
Carefully evaluate FM's for the greatest earning potential
Look for other outlets, including wholesale, CSA or farmstands
Most of these options would reflect a monetary outlay on the growers' end to achieve potential future sales.
I am not against FM's but I do oppose consumer demand to have one in every neighborhood. The health of a local food economy can not be measured solely by the sheer number of FM's. Net income per grower is a much better indicator.
Apologies for going off on the subject, but FM's are very much on my mind right now. I have sold at an FM the past few weeks and have taken major losses.
Anyway, I look forward to Britt's class on Food. It should be enlightening.
Laura, NFMA manages the U District, Broadway, Columbia City, W. Seattle, Lake City, Magnolia and Phinney markets. From my understanding, the other FM's in Seattle are managed by groups of people, not particular organizations. Some of those groups and individuals manage several markets such as the people who run the Fremont, Wallingford and Madrona markets. After to listening to Chris, I understand why she is partial to the markets that focus on food and the farmers. After leaving the meeting, I was all about the food only markets. That being said, I think it would be important to interview someone from a market that includes crafts and other items before I am too quick to form an opinion.
ReplyDeleteJonathan, thanks for your input. Your perspective is appreciated. It is too easy for us, as consumers, to only see the positive aspects of Farmers Markets (locally grown, better tasting food..what's not to love). Luckily, this class has opened our group's eyes to the less publicized factors of the local food movement, such as the effects, not all positive, on the farmers.
One of the articles that we have read for this class explores various aspects of Alternative Food Networks and includes results from a recent statewide farmer research survey in WA. One farmer included in the survey spoke of the frustration she feels about the lack of sustainability in transporting her products to the most popular markets, which for her happen to be in the Seattle metropolitan area. Driving over 200 miles to the city to sell her goods, she points to the problem of urban congestion and the difficulty of meeting production and sales costs this way.
This was just one example of the challenges of selling at farmer's markets, but it caused me to check my assumption that this is all about celebration and progress.
Sam,
ReplyDeleteI too greatly enjoyed this posting about your interview with Chris about the NFMA and wonder about the questions being raised here by Britt and Jonathan. It helps me consider my own experiences of shopping at farmers' markets: I've shopped at the University District farmers' market and the Columbia City farmers' market, and have seen mostly food items being sold at both. However I've seen some nonprofit organizations that are doing outreach at the Columbia City farmer's market.
Recently I helped DRCC do outreach at the new South Park farmers' market last month. The South Park farmers' market does have a few vendors who do sell items that aren't food related, such as the artist who makes porcelain pots, magnets, pendants and earrings. One of the market co-managers explained that one of the goals for the South Park market is to support local residents who are immigrants and teach them about how to do business in the U.S., they have a business co-op for the vendors. Regarding the comment by Jonathan about vendors not necessarily being from the local area the market is held in, I wonder if all the vendors that I saw that morning are local folks.
Joyce