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Greensboro may privatize farmers' curb market

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Comments (10)

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

(Updated 1:12 pm)

By Amanda Lehmert
Staff Writer

That tomato from the chain grocery store may be as juicy. But for some city shoppers, it might not be as good as the locally grown fruit sold at the Greensboro Farmers’ Curb Market.

City Council members were asked Tuesday afternoon to decide whether the city’s popular market should stay strictly local or accept products from outside the region.

Council members liked the idea of a local market but not that the difficulty of guaranteeing that products are homegrown would fall on the city. They asked the city manager’s office to explore privatizing the curb market now run by the Parks & Recreation Department.

Read more on this story in Wednesday’s News & Record or the E-edition.

Accompanying Photos

Morgan Josey Glover

Photo Caption: The Greensboro Farmers Curb Market.

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Leigh

July 27, 2010 - 10:10 pm EDT

I absolutely think that this market should sell only food and items that the vendors make or grow. I really can't understand why this is even an issue. I have had vendors lie to me about their produce stating that they grew it or made it themselves when I know that they didin't. Due to the management doing what they were supposed to do and confronting those vendors, most of them are no longer at the market. If I wanted to buy items shipped from other locations or commercial items, I would go to Harris Teeter. It's not that difficult to do. Carrboro can do it. I have actually driven to Carrboro to shop at their Farmer's Market. That shouldn't have to happen. I came to this market on a Wednesday looking for local organic food and there was none to be found. I have seen lately, this market getting better and better and I hope it continues to do so. Please city council, don't cheapen the atmosphere of this market by waffling and catering to a few individuals who are challening this. I believe you will find that most people if asked, would prefer local items.

InventorNC

July 28, 2010 - 4:05 am EDT

I have fond memories of our local Italian Farm Market in Mt Carmel, Connecticut. The family sold produce from their own truck farm and added many wonderful fruits, vegetables and other foods that could not be grown locally. Fresh food - way fresher than in a supermarket - and variety too. Plus Italian cold cuts and cheeses. A treasure trove.

Here's the happy surprise: year round fresh food. Yummy yummy yummy.

slyfox

July 28, 2010 - 9:54 am EDT

Leave the Farmers Market as it is now. Government doesn't know no anything about business or farming.All they know is TAX AND SPEND. Stay out.

913 jessie

July 28, 2010 - 8:28 am EDT

slyfox--please reread the article--in this case it is about the city wishing to relinquish control. They have been using tax payer well in this case maybe not perfectly but very well. The market is thriving, bigger every year, and the bad actors are being weeded out.

Taxes are not always bad. They can be good or bad--like reading skills.

bassman34

July 28, 2010 - 8:45 am EDT

I know the city council is not a perfect system, but at least if the market is city controlled we (citizens) have somewhat of a voice it what happens with it. Seems to me the privatization will give someone or group free reign to do whatever with the market. The market needs to stay local, period. There are a couple of vendors that do not agree witht this. My suggestion would be to set a booth at Sandy Ridge where it is an open market.

Panacea

July 28, 2010 - 9:40 am EDT

Not everything needs to be business run. I want local produce from the Farmer's Market. I agree with the comment that if I wanted stuff shipped in, I'd go to Harris Teeter.

When I lived in Maryland, Delaware, AND Northern California, there were wonderful roadside stands all over the place where local farmers sold their produce. I see little of that here; the Farmer's Market is the next best thing.

goodtimes

July 28, 2010 - 11:53 am EDT

Hey Panacea- Our family tried to run a "roadside stand" in Guilford County, NC. I have lived in CA, PA, NJ and Illinois and operated fresh food stands at many "locally grown" markets; the owners divided the markets into "Locally Grown" and "Imported" divisions and allowed the customers to make their choice. We have never run into such a hassle as I have here by city, county and state rules & regulations, inspections, licenses, taxes,etc... It appears they want to direct consumers to the shopping centers and big box food stores to pursue urban sprawl and an encroaching tax base into the county. As usual, it's all about the money. I think the government should get out of the "farmers market" and allow the private sector dictate the quality of the food provided and its' origination.

gsostudent

July 28, 2010 - 11:02 am EDT

This is so outrageous. The farmer's market needs to be local otherwise the whole point is ruined. This City Council has their heads in the sand.

thirstytarheel

July 28, 2010 - 11:39 am EDT

Keep our farmer's market local, local, local. I have many fond memories of going to the local farmer's market and I intend to continue going as my time, age, and health allows. If I want produce grown in Mexico and other such places, I will go to one of the "big chain" stores. I don't think I have ever heard a news story warning us that the lettuce, radishes, tomatoes, etc. purchased at our local farmer's market is making people sick. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Leave the Greensboro Farmer's Market as it is!

newtogso

July 28, 2010 - 11:39 am EDT

And why can't the curb market sell local food AND be privatized? Privatization could be to a non-profit, it could be to a for profit. I want the food to be local too and I visit the market regularly, but I think it could do and be a lot more if it wasn't hamstrung by being overseen by the City. Let's hear more details before saying this is a bad move.