Somerville Winter Farmers' Market starts December 7 - but without Enterprise Farm

[ron_newman]

At last Wednesday's Davis Square Farmers' Market, Enterprise Farm had signs up saying that they will not be participating in the Somerville Winter Farmers' Market this year.

When I asked why, they told me that the winter market management no longer allows Enterprise to import produce from outside Massachusetts (or maybe from outside New England - I'm not sure). In past years, many of Enterprise's offerings have come from family farms in more southern latitudes, including Florida. Without these, Enterprise doesn't have enough of its own produce to sell to make the winter market worthwhile.

If you disagree with this decision, I suggest e-mailing the winter market manager, SomWinterMarket@gmail.com . I am concerned that the overall market could be less successful, and less popular, without Enterprise.

Comments

[lyonesse.livejournal.com]

enterprise is, however, offering a winter csa with a couple of davis-area pickups. check out their website if interested.

[real-green-tea.livejournal.com]

That really is too bad. As an individual, with no car, I did not think I could subscribe to the Enterprise winter CSA but looked forward to their presence at the Armory this winter.

[squirrelitude]

I feel pretty conflicted about this. I don't want non-local produce to displace local produce but I also want to support family farms in general. I suppose it comes down to whether someone local-only would replace Enterprise.

[ron_newman]

I don't see Enterprise's non-local produce as having "displaced" any local produce. They imported things such as oranges that don't grow in New England.

[cravereality.livejournal.com]

Yes - I appreciate the fact that I can buy an orange in the winter but know it's at least from a small family farm in Florida. The amount of truly local produce available in the winter is not great, and Enterprise kind of bridges the gap between locavore and supermarket.

[squirrelitude]

The question is whether they would be displacing another vendor, not like-for-like produce. (Florida oranges for Massachusetts apples.)

[rosiewoodboat.livejournal.com]

The fact that they bring in produce from outside our growing area actually means they have consistently underpriced local producers.

[ron_newman]

But there aren't local producers of oranges at all, or of cherry tomatoes during the winter months.

[rosiewoodboat.livejournal.com]

I am just speaking factually about their practices for products which are also grown locally.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_meej_/]

"Their" kale, etc weren't particularly local, either (Lady Moon Farms). Better Florida/Georgia, etc than California or South America (from a locavoric standpoint) but when there are much-more-local vendors like that Rhode Island guy, rosiewoodboat's point about pricing is a good one.

[missdimple.livejournal.com]

Response from the Winter Market's manager:

Thanks for your email and inquiry.

We allow farms to partner with regional farms to sell produce not represented at the market (for example cranberries, many grains, produce, etc), and with farms outside the region for specialty winter produce not represented at the market (like citrus). We don't allow resale (products from partnering farms) of items that are the same or very similar to vendor grown products (for example, squash, cabbages, root vegetables, potatoes, and we have a large variety of greenhouse greens locally grown and offered at market).

We didn't receive an application from Enterprise and would welcome an application next year.

Last year just weeks before the season started a rule was imposed limiting all vendors to 20% resale each week. This would have disqualified Enterprise just weeks before the market started. This seemed unfair. When I was hired right before the market started I decided, with the market board, to revoke that rule and instead we spent the year surveying customers, vendors, and reviewing the original long term goals of the market. The new policy is a result if all if those efforts

New England winter production has evolved rapidly over the last 4 years. We have fantastic vendors this year and I do hope you will come shopping at the market starting December 7.

Best,
MaryCat, market manager

[ron_newman]

Thanks. I got a similar e-mail from MaryCat, but you got here first to post it. See you at the market opening!