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GREENSBORO - The Greensboro Farmers' Curb Market won't relax its rules governing what can be sold there, the commission that oversees the market decided Wednesday.

The issue of what should - and shouldn't - be sold at the Yanceyville Street market drew attention after market officials recently began a more strict enforcement of its policy against vendors selling food they didn't produce.

Some vendors and customers objected.

They said farmers should have more flexibility. The city had been considering a policy change that would have loosened those rules.

But others said the emphasis on locally grown food is at the heart of the market's appeal, and the city Parks and Recreation Commission unanimously agreed Wednesday that the restrictions should not be eased.

"The integrity of the market is based upon ... local products," said David Hoggard, a member of the commission. "It is a farmers curb market, and it's supposed to be a local farmers curb market."

The issue might not disappear, however.

John Handler, a Randolph County farmer who sells produce at the market, said the critical issue is whether the rules are adequately enforced in the future.

He and others have said some vendors have been breaking the rules, creating an uneven playing field and misleading customers.

"We'll see," he said.

City officials pledged to take enforcement seriously.

"Every effort is going to be made to make sure the rules are going to be enforced fairly," said Bonnie Kuester, director of the parks and recreation department.

Advocates for a new policy weren't happy with the outcome of the meeting.

Market customer Ruth Foster had circulated a petition calling for a policy change after an Amish vendor was no longer allowed to sell butter and cheese from Ohio. She and others said customers needed a greater say in the market's rules.

Foster noted that other non-locally grown products are sold at the market, including coffee and tea.

Current rules allow for exceptions to the policy in some circumstances.

"I don't see a lot of consistency in this policy," she said.

Officials described the coffee as more of a courtesy for market customers and said limiting the number of exceptions is important.

"If we go back and allow too many things, it won't be a local farmers market," said Rose Marie Ponton, the chairwoman of the Parks and Recreation Commission.

Contact Jason Hardin at 373-7021 or at jason.hardin@news-record.com