LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
‘Cheaters’ cast farmers’ market in bad light
After watching the second instalment of The Passionate Eye, it seems clear that "The Peterborough Cheats" play in the Farmers' Market League of produce resellers. What is even worse, is that "The Cheats" appear to be protected by an administration that has booted out whistleblowers and those critical of rampant reselling practices.
Shame on you Peterborough Farmers' Market board!
Thanks to the Passionate Eye exposé and your dismal reaction to criticism and whistleblowers, many Ontarians will likely avoid your farmers' market when visiting the beautiful Kawarthas. - Talk about shooting yourself in the foot!
Alan J. Nanders, Kitchener
Disappointed by the plight of local farmers
As a 5th generation resident, I am very disappointed with the decision to oust many of our local farmers from the Saturday market !! The livelihood of many and the tradition of the community is at stake. For decades, our children have found its historic presence an excellent learning experience. The apparent decision and the reason behind it requires a serious review by all residents of the City and the County of Peterborough.
Robert D. Bathgate, Peterborough
City can do more to deal with farmers’ market issues
Many people like me are angered by the recent decision by the Peterborough Farmers’ Market to evict a core group of local producers. Some say that they will boycott the Saturday market and shop instead at nearby smaller farmers’ markets that feature locally produced items and operate on weekdays.
This does not address the core problem however that the Saturday Peterborough Farmers’ Market gets preferential treatment from the city through their lease of Morrow Park and the exclusive right to use city-owned property as a farmers’ market on Saturdays. Even the right to use the name Peterborough implies that this market represents the city and its values. Morrow Park is ideally situated to attract the large numbers of cottagers passing through the area on Saturday morning and often busy people can only shop on the weekend.
I understand that the city has the power to break the lease with the current Peterborough Farmers’ Market management group for not fulfilling their lease expectations including their failure to provide annual public financial statements and can take tenders from other groups that offer greater fairness, transparency and
professionalism. Software exists, for example, that can show on a website a vendor’s original application as well as ongoing documentation of where and how the vendor grows or produces their products. To encourage local farmers, some markets offer lower rents to local producers to offset the unfair competition from resellers. Some markets include board members from the public to help make decisions about issues like the number of local producers versus resellers and community needs.
If this matter is not resolved before the upcoming municipal and provincial elections, I intend to ask a lot of questions of the candidates about their stand on improving the Peterborough Farmers`Market because I think we can do better. I urge others who feel the same way as me to do the same.
Ruth Bishop, Weller Street
Loyal customer gives up on farmers’ market
To: My favored suppliers at the Peterborough Market (formerly the Peterborough Farmers’ Market)
I regret to inform you that I can no longer continue to patronize the Peterborough Re-sellers Market after the atrocious and intolerable events of this past week. I have been a customer of the market for as long as I can remember, and would only miss a Saturday morning if I had absolutely no other choice. I came here as a child with my father and grandmother. You could ask my wife how steadfast I have been and listen to hear her eyes roll.
This has now been taken away from me. I can not bring myself to patronize an institution that shows such blatant disrespect to its customers and its members and its community. I bear no ill will to the honorable and honest vendors that I have patronized over these many years, and would gladly continue to do so, but not at this corrupt institution. I came here today only because I feel a personal connection to some of the farmers here and wanted you to know that this is no fault of your own. You know whose fault it is.
Thank you for the food, the conversations, the once pleasant Saturday morning ritual, and the connection through you with the land.
Goodbye and good luck.
Charly Baker, Peterborough
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