[whelan costen]

Thanks for posting this, it is very clear to me that large corporations aren't getting enough out of the wee folk, so they use our own government to act against us. By creating new rules, restrictions to play by the small business, small farmer, that tends to their business and usually cares more about quality because the message is spread word of mouth, is getting run out of town! The consumers are the ones who lose as well as the small business. We get to buy food laced with preservatives and wonder why our kids are sick. Ever wonder why you can't make sour milk at home, by the time it goes sour it is spoiled, disgusting not useable! Something that should be used fresh but instead is from last year, like vegetables or fruit, is sprayed to stop rippening and then resprayed to start the process again. Is that healthy?<br /> <br /> Time to stop the attack on our food supply and health choices now! <img align=absmiddle src='images/smilies/frown.gif' alt='Frown'>

[Marcarc]

Yes, excellent article, I live right handy to St. Jacobs, which is touted as the busiest farmers market in the province (that could be just marketing), so I'm going to go next saturday and inquire at vendors if they've had any of these problems. <br /> <br /> It is ironic, but the farmers markets here suffer from the same problems as small businesses. The one main farmers market has become so popular that it is now run by the same vendors, which are usually distributors, not farmers. At the main market (the touted busiest one in the province) you'll hardly even see a mennonite farmer. <br /> <br /> This problem has been attended by various means. First, another market has opened up across the street. It is not as busy, and you'll actually see the mennonites there. However, the distributors are slowly moving in there as well. Cheese and meat retailers as well as holistic supplement providers and 'hard goods' such as socks and jewelry make up the bulk of indoor booths. Outside there is basically one long line which is available for farmers, the other sides are primarily big farms, like apple growers for instance. <br /> <br /> The other way it is being attended is that the Region of Waterloo puts out a map which shows all the various farms in the region. Down here people travel to the farms in order to get their produce, which I would suspect shows the failings of the current 'market driven' "farmer's" markets. Personally, I make a fifteen minute trip out to a farm every two weeks to buy most of my produce, apples, tatties, peppers, onions, etc. In fact, this young mennonite family virtually runs a 'drive through' farm, if I call a day ahead with my order, they go out and pick it that morning and by the time I get there I have fresh vegetables. <br /> <br /> I suppose that mennonites prefer it this way rather than having to stack up their produce against two dozen competitors. However, next time I talk to them I should inquire whether one of their main reasons is 'farm-gate'. I essentially agree with the above, but am not surprised to see government pushing big businesses agenda-what else have they been doing for thirty years? (though I agree it is getting worse)

[Rural]

You make a good point Mararc, I too know the St Jacobs "Farmers market" quite well although from some time ago. It has so far as I can tell become very much a "retailers" market with permanent "stalls" for many who do NOT produce what they sell. In this regard I understand a little where the health boards fall into a catch 22. There are I know, some farmers markets that will not allow vendors that sell other than their own produce, but I don't know how they handle "non consumable" items. Our local market here has expanded to 100s of vendors selling everything from lawnmowers to lamps, toys to tools, plants to peanuts! It is now almost overwhelming during the busy summer months, however we still see some Mennonite vendors selling their produce and find that for quality and price that they are the people to go to. There seems to be a necessity to separate those vendors who grow, make or, raise the items they sell at "farmers markets" from those who just take advantage of that venue to sell items that they sell else ware on a commercial basis be it bread, beef or beets. The need for more "cooperatives" seems to be growing but there are probably so many "regulations" that producers find it difficult to get one started, it would seem that once "past the farm gate" the labeling and production rules kick in irregardless of the size of the organization. How do we separate the big boys from the little guys?<br /> If you have ever compared an egg just out from under a free range chicken to a "fresh" anemic egg from the store you know which is best. The only thing cracked is the people who cannot recognize it.<br /> P.S. Took me 5 trys to get this posted, oh the joys of rural dialup!