Farmers Market Upset!

(Here is my unedited letter to the local paper.)

Now that the lazy summer days are here we look forward to what we might find at the Farmers Market each Saturday. We absolutely love planning our weekly meals around whatever goodies we find. In addition it is fun to see the few artisans display their art forms.

Last week we found out that the new local Bakery By The Sea would now also have a little booth on the boardwalk. Although we are regular customers of the new little business on Hwy 101 we were excited for them to make the commitment to expand their business to include the Farmers Market. However, we did not see them there this past Saturday even though we made a point to look for them.

Earlier Sunday morning we made our customary stop for a delectable ham and cheese croissant, and while there we inquired why we did not see them on the boardwalk the previous day. We were appalled at the answer we received: Bakery By The Sea was not given permission to join the Farmer’s Market because, “there is already a bakery represented” (from Ashland). WHAT? So how come there is more than one produce stand? Are we missing the boat here? A little variety and competition never hurt anyone. And is the purpose of a Farmer’s Market not to bring us, the customers, items from the area first and foremost from where we live?

Our first response to this news is to boycott the company who makes such unjust rulings. Unfortunately the Farmers Market is not a company, we would only be hurting all the hardworking vendors that provide us with the freshest products that we for one so appreciate. So who is the person responsible for this unfair decision? Of all the vendors who deserve to be represented in OUR Farmers Market it should be our local businesses. Let us, the citizens of Brookings have a choice whose bread we want to purchase each week. Bakery By The Sea needs to be given an opportunity to showcase their delicious goodies not only to all the visitors in the area but also to the locals whom the bakery will be depending on for business during the long winter months. Keep the Farmers Market local, and if necessary, open it up to long distance vendors.