Farmers' Market Burnout
The San Francisco Chronicle reports on Bay area farmers and farmers' market burnout after two major departures from the Ferry Plaza Farmers' Market, Terra Firma and Andy Griffin and Julia Wiley of Mariquita.
While these departures may just be part of the regular business life cycle, farmers' markets are becoming more competitive marketplaces with more farmers offering the same goods, as well as a diluted market, thanks to the proliferation of so many farmers' markets. The question is, how does the current farmers' market business model scale, if at all? Some farmers are adapting by shifting more of their business to a CSA model, while others are branching out into unique crops.
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5 Comments:
Perhaps this implies that the middlemen, i.e. distributors and supermarkets, are necessary evils? Is it too much to expect of the farmers to grow the vegetables AND bring it into our cities AND sell it? Sure the profit margins are better for them, but it sounds like the effort is simply untenable. Then again, the CSA model might be the best middle ground: no middlemen, fewer trips into the city, and guaranteed revenues with payments at the beginning of the season.
jamieforrest at 12:07PM on 09/19/07
The Markets themselves are also middlemen. They raise the stand prices & invite more & more farms with the same products (competition). Farmers Markets are such a long day for the vendors....I completely understand. CSA is the way to go for the smaller farms who want a life too.
Kim Nyland at 2:18PM on 09/19/07
I believe that anyone who thinks that CSA is a viable model for more than the near-religious few is fooling themselves. Very few people are willing to give up the choice of what they eat and when, even to support sustainable agriculture. That, and the costs of getting relatively small amounts of food into locations (markets) where consumers can get at them easily define the challenges to the "local and sustainable" model. These are problems that, in my opinion, can't be escaped and will make the local and sustainable movement expensive for consumers and limited in rewards for farmers.
The Ferry Building is a very expensive piece of real estate and I am not surprised that there is a cost/price squeeze when it is used as a place to sell/buy lettuce.
gustoct at 2:31PM on 09/19/07
" Very few people are willing to give up the choice of what they eat and when, even to support sustainable agriculture"
Wow...seems like you have even less hope than I do. I for one am willing & do...If it ain't in season or from the cold cellar we don't eat it. Strawberries in March....a big ole' joke, non jarred/canned tomatoes in december...pahleeze. It's quite sad, being a CSA member makes me zealot in your eyes.....Yes, we do still live in the 'it's all about me world' & we all will pay a price for that.
"These are problems that, in my opinion, can't be escaped and will make the local and sustainable movement expensive for consumers and limited in rewards for farmers"
Of course it's more expensive for consumers as it should be. If you want to pay Walmart prices for garlic from China or Mexico, please do. I for one, try & purchase as much as I can that is produced in this country (what I believe is local & sustainable). Sure I can go to IKEA and furnish my house in goods produced in China....BUT I choose to pay more to keep jobs here.......just like I choose to pay more for a local apple to keep Joe's Farm alive & producing fresh goods for us to buy.
Farmers aren't farmers for all the rewards they get.....they love what they do & their lives while doing it.
Kim Nyland at 4:06PM on 09/19/07
I agree that those who feel as you do will do as you do. I am simply making the factual observation that only a small minority do and that the additional food expense and loss of choice make life difficult for small farmers who want to live reasonable lives because the economic constraints are what they are.
gustoct at 4:52PM on 09/19/07