Farmers Markets: do you have an opinion you'd like to share?

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Farmers Markets: do you have an opinion you'd like to share?
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nats

Joined: 12 Jun 2007
Posts: 2374
Location: Swindon but not a Swindonian

Posted: Thu Nov 26, 09 12:44 pm Post subject:

Our local one appears to be booming, it's weekly, and outside the McArthur Glen Designer Outlet village which is always busy. Unfortunately for me it's on a Sunday morning, which means I have to dash their really fast after Church, and preferably have ordered what I want in advance otherwise they will have sold out. However it seems to work for both the sellers and buyers. And yes it's primarily local not organic, but some are both and certainly I don't see any battery hens eggs for instance.... The weekly thing seems to make a big difference

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Thu Nov 26, 09 12:50 pm Post subject: Re: Farmers Markets: do you have an opinion you'd like to sh

Mary-Jane wrote:

The title of her research is: "Are Farmers' Markets raising the profile of organic foods or simply pandering to a minority?"

Sorry, I'm going to come back to this. Her question is flawed. There are over 500 farmer's markets in the UK, and more than 50% are signed up to FARMA, making it by far the largest 'standard'. It's ALL about local, and there's no mention of organic on it's website at all, except in the FAQ where it says they are not about organic.

Before she launches tons of effort into this, can she change the title? Suggesting they may be 'pandering' and organically focussed may end up doing harm to them.

https://www.farmersmarkets.net/index.htm

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42207
Location: North Devon

Posted: Thu Nov 26, 09 12:53 pm Post subject: Re: Farmers Markets: do you have an opinion you'd like to sh

Nick wrote:

Mary-Jane wrote:

The title of her research is: "Are Farmers' Markets raising the profile of organic foods or simply pandering to a minority?"

What Nick just said. None of the ones that I've used have been about organic at all. They've been about local (ISTR that London ones are allowed to define local as further away than the rest of the country.).

gil
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 18409

Posted: Thu Nov 26, 09 1:03 pm Post subject:

In Scotland, also very much about 'local'. Organic may be available but is not the main point, or USP of the markets. Other than [obviously] for the individual producer who is certified organic, as well as being local.

Though Edinburgh and Glasgow have a wider producer catchment area because of city spread, and are more like 'Scottish' produce by smaller producers.

Topic title needs changing, IMO, or your friend won't get meaningful results,as her basic premise is incorrect.

Mrs R

Joined: 15 Aug 2008
Posts: 7202

Posted: Thu Nov 26, 09 1:22 pm Post subject:
I'd question use of the term 'pandering' too, it's quite negative - I'm sure sellers aren't pandering to anyone, they're just trying to make a living!

Mary-Jane

Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 18397
Location: The Fishing Strumpet is from Ceredigion in West Wales

Posted: Thu Nov 26, 09 1:44 pm Post subject:

Nick wrote:

Mary-Jane wrote:

The title of her research is: "Are Farmers' Markets raising the profile of organic foods or simply pandering to a minority?"

Sorry, I'm going to come back to this. Her question is flawed.

Ixy wrote:

I'd question use of the term 'pandering' too, it's quite negative - I'm sure sellers aren't pandering to anyone, they're just trying to make a living!

Just to set the record straight. My friend didn't set the question - it was given to her to research.

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42207
Location: North Devon

Posted: Thu Nov 26, 09 1:52 pm Post subject:
Ahh. Then the answer is No.

Jo S

Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 5174
Location: Somerset

Posted: Thu Nov 26, 09 1:54 pm Post subject:

nats wrote:

Oooh, that's not far from me. What time does it kick off?

gil
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 18409

Posted: Thu Nov 26, 09 2:03 pm Post subject:

Mary-Jane wrote:

Just to set the record straight. My friend didn't set the question - it was given to her to research.

Then it gives her an opportunity to demolish the question at the outset.

Or perhaps she might have a quiet word with whoever set the question in the first place to get it rephrased, because otherwise she may have a task trying to do the project.

There's plenty of easily available evidence to demolish the initial hypothesis without needing to discuss further [e.g. lists of producers that go to each farmers market, and whether or not they are organic].

T.G

Joined: 13 Sep 2009
Posts: 7280
Location: Somewhere you're not

Posted: Thu Nov 26, 09 2:08 pm Post subject:

Well farmers markets are not a new thing in these parts, Bakewell Market, for example, has been going for decades and I suspect generations. It's far from organic lead. It used to be local farm produce, its still called a farmers market but less and less local stuff is sold at it, and less farmer produce, imho.

There are lots of farmers markets, not many mention organic, not even at stall level, they are well advertised, but always in the day time, which to me seems a bit bonkers, most people around here are commuters, Derbyshire is well known for having bugga all work, so unless you're loaded, landed gentry, or retired you'd be out of the county (most probably) working in any of the neighbouring cities.

So basically farmers markets are for tourists and it would seem their prices reflect that.

We do have evening Christmas farmers markets so why not in mid week all year round ...pfft

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Thu Nov 26, 09 2:09 pm Post subject:
Just a thought, is Downsizer essentially an online farmers market?

Barefoot Andrew
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 21 Mar 2007
Posts: 22780
Location: In the 17th century

Posted: Thu Nov 26, 09 2:28 pm Post subject:
I really like that idea. A.

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Thu Nov 26, 09 2:34 pm Post subject: Re: Farmers Markets: do you have an opinion you'd like to sh

Mary-Jane wrote:

The title of her research is: "Are Farmers' Markets raising the profile of organic foods or simply pandering to a minority?"

Within the context of the question, it would seem to me that farmers markets do both. While farmers markets don't have to be organic, a lot of the produce IS organic. Where the market is central to other retail (like in a town or market square) its raising the profile, where its not integrated in that way (out of the way suburban hall or suchlike) its 'pandering to a minority'.

The fact that catering to a speciality market should be portrayed in such a negative light speaks volumes about whoever set the question.

Cambridge farmers market, which is on alongside the craft market on Sundays (Market Square, same place the daily market is on for the other 6 days), is a good example of integrating the two (alongside other retail in the city centre). It raises the profile of local and organic produce. I'd say that the travelling farmers market with its quite complex route around the suburbs and villages ('x Sunday or Y Saturday each month') does little to raise the profile of such produce, relying on people making a special trip.

gil
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 18409

Posted: Thu Nov 26, 09 2:41 pm Post subject:

cab wrote:

Where the market is central to other retail (like in a town or market square) its raising the profile, where its not integrated in that way (out of the way suburban hall or suchlike) its 'pandering to a minority'.

Cambridge farmers market, which is on alongside the craft market on Sundays (Market Square, same place the daily market is on for the other 6 days), is a good example of integrating the two (alongside other retail in the city centre). It raises the profile of local and organic produce. I'd say that the travelling farmers market with its quite complex route around the suburbs and villages ('x Sunday or Y Saturday each month') does little to raise the profile of such produce, relying on people making a special trip.

You need to take into account climate, town centre issues, and the legislation/administration of markets. Also existing street market provision in a town / region. The sitauion is far more complicated than Cab suggests [perhaps based on living in cities].

T

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Thu Nov 26, 09 2:46 pm Post subject:

gil wrote:

With regard to the practicalities of running/shopping at/selling at such markets I entirely agree; variation in climate, access, etc. is hugely important. Within the context of the question, however, I'd say that if consideration of those other parameters results in the market being held away from other places people may visit (other shops, for example) you'll not promote either local or organic produce all that well, and that the 'pandering' option (horrible, weighted way of putting t) may be closer to the truth.

We've got the option of shopping at either, as well as having shops that specialise in good, local produce. We use the shops for some things, the market (farmers market and daily) for some others, and the outlying, intermittent farmers markets almost never.

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