Trouble at the markets?

michcon said :

Masquara said :

Question was asked on 666 yesterday re the market: where are those ripe red capsicums on sale at this time of the season being grown? Not locally. Queensland was the commenter’s thesis. What IS the farmer’s market policy? I thought it was only for local growers?

Hmm, I was actually pulling capsicums off my backyard plants only a month ago, it really should be an impossible concept that they’d be grown in Sydney, or under a poly tunnel/hothouse. I have provided feedback to the market organisers before though – each stall holder should display a sign that states how far away the food is grown. Food miles, and supporting the local economy is an important concept for some market goers and if they are going to be a bit relaxed about the geographical definition of the “capital region” then it should be stated nice and clear.

Sorry – should NOT be an impossible concept.

michcon said :

Masquara said :

Question was asked on 666 yesterday re the market: where are those ripe red capsicums on sale at this time of the season being grown? Not locally. Queensland was the commenter’s thesis. What IS the farmer’s market policy? I thought it was only for local growers?

Hmm, I was actually pulling capsicums off my backyard plants only a month ago, it really should be an impossible concept that they’d be grown in Sydney, or under a poly tunnel/hothouse. I have provided feedback to the market organisers before though – each stall holder should display a sign that states how far away the food is grown. Food miles, and supporting the local economy is an important concept for some market goers and if they are going to be a bit relaxed about the geographical definition of the “capital region” then it should be stated nice and clear.

Masquara said :

Question was asked on 666 yesterday re the market: where are those ripe red capsicums on sale at this time of the season being grown? Not locally. Queensland was the commenter’s thesis. What IS the farmer’s market policy? I thought it was only for local growers?

Hmm, I was actually pulling capsicums off my backyard plants only a month ago, it really should be an impossible concept that they’d be grown in Sydney, or under a poly tunnel/hothouse. I have provided feedback to the market organisers before though – each stall holder should display a sign that states how far away the food is grown. Food miles, and supporting the local economy is an important concept for some market goers and if they are going to be a bit relaxed about the geographical definition of the “capital region” then it should be stated nice and clear.

Madam Cholet said :

I’m always surprised by people’s capacity to believe that just because it comes from the farmers market that it is fresh, organic, better for us. From what I can see there is no requirement by the these markets for producers to demonstrate that their food is locally grown, not sprayed yesterday etc etc. I’ve certainly purchased stuff there, but I’m surprised that in the type of environment we live in these days in which we are regulated to within an inch of our lives concerning public health, that there is not more scrutiny.

Market rules are here: http://www.capitalregionfarmersmarket.com.au/downloads.html

While the managing committee does have some discretion about how large the ‘local’ region is (eg, there are pie makers and smallgoods stallholders who drive up from northern Victoria fortnightly), it is not unheard of for a stallholder to be ejected if they misrepresent the provenance of the products they sell.

I can think of at least two instances where stallholders were ejected because they claimed to be selling on behalf of regional growers when in fact they got their produce from a commercial wholesaler who supplies supermarkets.

Madam Cholet said :

I’m always surprised by people’s capacity to believe that just because it comes from the farmers market that it is fresh, organic, better for us. From what I can see there is no requirement by the these markets for producers to demonstrate that their food is locally grown, not sprayed yesterday etc etc. I’ve certainly purchased stuff there, but I’m surprised that in the type of environment we live in these days in which we are regulated to within an inch of our lives concerning public health, that there is not more scrutiny.

There are some organic producers at the market, but it’s best to check, they have to have their certification displayed if they are selling organic produce. If its not certified organic, it’s grown conventionally using chemicals.

Low spray

Organic fertilizers used

And chemical free

Are marketing terms.

That said not everyone is looking for organic produce, and there are some great conventional growers at these markets, including Joe Vassello from Mowbray Park Produce and Others

“Pilpel Fine Foods” are listed as a producer. They are NOT. Their products are marked “made in Australia” not “product of Australia”. Absolute lie.

shirty_bear said :

towerofsoup said :

So… I shouldn’t go to the markets?

I went to these markets once. *Once*.

The complaint centred around the markets having become more about coffee and cake, than about local fresh-to-market produce. Which, in my experience, is correct. And the coffee-and-cake brigade ain’t buying what produce is there, whilst making it relatively difficult for actual buyers to navigate the joint.

I thought his basic point was a fair one, even if (along with no help from the announcer/interviewer) clumsily put. No surprise, given that he’s a farmer; he only wants to see punters there for farm stuff.
They probably need two markets side by side – one for the farmers and and one for the crowd who want to kid themselves they’re shopping at a farmer’s market while they blankly slurp their coffee.

+1 billion…….that is exactly what needs to happen……..I want to go for the fresh produce (farm to us) and I resent having to navigate the blankly sipping latte crowd who are often totally unaware of their surroundings………..

I’m always surprised by people’s capacity to believe that just because it comes from the farmers market that it is fresh, organic, better for us. From what I can see there is no requirement by the these markets for producers to demonstrate that their food is locally grown, not sprayed yesterday etc etc. I’ve certainly purchased stuff there, but I’m surprised that in the type of environment we live in these days in which we are regulated to within an inch of our lives concerning public health, that there is not more scrutiny.

No problem at all beef and lamb producer Phil McCormack from Crookwell. I hear you loud and clear and will comply.

To ensure you have plenty of space around your stall, I will in future purchase my beef and/or lamb from one of the other producers.

Thanks for the heads-up and I am sorry to have previously been an inconvenience to you.

Question was asked on 666 yesterday re the market: where are those ripe red capsicums on sale at this time of the season being grown? Not locally. Queensland was the commenter’s thesis. What IS the farmer’s market policy? I thought it was only for local growers?

Crowds are a pain but it’s the only place to buy real fresh produce that lasts a week or longer.

Many of these suggestions are good though, it is a pain to shop when there are too many people for the venue to comfortably accommodate.

aidan said :

Translation: “Get off my markets!” ?

Farmer Palmer fan?

arescarti42 said :

I find the crowds at the farmers markets to be a total pain in the ass, and now go less frequently than I did previously.

Ditto, though I never go at all now.

I might suggest that he loses business because of his “buy your stuff and get out” attitude.

Good customer service goes a long way, bad customer service does too.

Maybe the punters are just getting confused between the Farmers’ Market and the Farmers’ Meerkat?

sepi said :

too many customers staying too long is a problem most venues would like to have.

they need to spread out a bit – they are at the showgrounds – how can it be too small.

or segregate a bit better – so the nutbag vegie hunters can get in, grab their southern highlands brussels sprouts and get out, without being shocked by the sight of someone in ironed clothing, and those who want to wander and smell the coffee and see what local produce is all about can do so at their leisure.

Or have the vegies start at 5am, and the coffee and cake and pies etc starting at 10.30, and going all day. I might even go to the markets if it was on in the afternoon….

Where does the insanity of mega early starts (5 am) come from? My goodness (or fcuk as others would say)…

too many customers staying too long is a problem most venues would like to have.

they need to spread out a bit – they are at the showgrounds – how can it be too small.

or segregate a bit better – so the nutbag vegie hunters can get in, grab their southern highlands brussels sprouts and get out, without being shocked by the sight of someone in ironed clothing, and those who want to wander and smell the coffee and see what local produce is all about can do so at their leisure.

Or have the vegies start at 5am, and the coffee and cake and pies etc starting at 10.30, and going all day. I might even go to the markets if it was on in the afternoon….

I go almost every week. It is no hassle to buy anything. Maybe his produce is not up to standards?

I’ve been shopping there regularly in the last 2+ years. We’re talking veggies, fruits, meats, breads, cheese, dips and the occasional sweet treat. So yeah, it’s not the hardcore market it used to be when you had to get up at 6am to do your shopping, but it’s still a very good market for fresh produce.

He has a beef.

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

Is he a half wit?

Not completely. I’m one of those people who want to get in, buy my stuff and GTFO and I know exactly the types of people he’s talking about. There are women dressed to the nines at 7:30am, an uncomfortably high number of posers or just gas baggers who clagg up the passages to the stalls doing nothing but exuding “look at moi, look at my organic bagel spinach”. It is, admittedly, part of the charm of the markets, but some people can overdo it.

towerofsoup said :

So… I shouldn’t go to the markets?

I went to these markets once. *Once*.

The complaint centred around the markets having become more about coffee and cake, than about local fresh-to-market produce. Which, in my experience, is correct. And the coffee-and-cake brigade ain’t buying what produce is there, whilst making it relatively difficult for actual buyers to navigate the joint.

I thought his basic point was a fair one, even if (along with no help from the announcer/interviewer) clumsily put. No surprise, given that he’s a farmer; he only wants to see punters there for farm stuff.
They probably need two markets side by side – one for the farmers and and one for the crowd who want to kid themselves they’re shopping at a farmer’s market while they blankly slurp their coffee.

Is he a half wit?

I thought that a market might have something to do with genuine customers, too. Why shouldn’t people ‘sit around’ if they want to?

Epic whinge.

So… I shouldn’t go to the markets?

I find the crowds at the farmers markets to be a total pain in the ass, and now go less frequently than I did previously.

I think what they need is to find a bigger venue where they can spread out a bit, or perhaps hold it on both Saturday and Sunday so they can split the crowd a bit.

Translation: “Get off my markets!” ?