We can all agree that farmers markets are a cornerstone of the local food economy and help preserve the integrity of foodsheds. They deserve permanent structures and homes that reflect their place in local food systems.
On Sunday, July 12th—at the height of the farmers market high season—I had the pleasure of volunteering at the Marin County Civic Center Farmers Market in San Rafael, California. This is one the most famous and most popular farmers markets around (with over 190 stalls), and on this bright and sunny day, the stalls were brimming with fresh produce, artisanal cuisine, gorgeous cut flowers, and whimsical, lovely crafts. The crowds abounded—drinking in the sights, smells, and camaraderie of friendly strangers.
I was there to volunteer at an outreach table for MALT—the Marin Agricultural Land Trust (www.malt.org). MALT is a wonderful organization that preserves Marin County farmland by acquiring agricultural conservation easements through voluntary transactions with landowners—ranchers and farmers. MALT is a key part of why Marin County is able to preserve as much farmland as it does, and the results of its work were in evidence at the Civic Center Farmers Market.
As I said, I was lucky enough to be volunteering on a sunny and warm summer day. But not every day at the farmers market is so balmy.
For those days on which the weather is not as cooperative (although we, of course, very much appreciate the rain for our crops), farmers markets should be held within or under more permanent structures. On rainy days, not only do vendors and shoppers need to contend with umbrellas and raincoats, they also need to worry about water rushing through the parking lot at a fast clip. This makes the entire farmers market experience decidedly less enjoyable.
Fortunately, the Marin Farmers Markets (http://www.marinfarmersmarkets.org/), the organization that runs eights markets around the San Francisco Bay Area, has embarked on a planning process to construct such a structure. In addition to providing protection from inclement weather, preliminary designs include infrastructural elements such as a plumbing system for washing produce, signage and wayfinding, and landscaping. Small improvements that would make a big difference.
These planned improvements are slowly making their way through the county government. If you are a Marin County resident, please let your county supervisor know how important it is to create lasting homes for your farmers market—which are such a key part of ensuring sustainability at the local level.
If you live elsewhere, help give your local farmers market the place of honor it deserves in our post-industrial-farming economy. Write to your city or county representative and let them know you would like your farmers market to have a permanent home.
Hi Everyone,
I have received a couple of queries asking me to elaborate on some details of my post, so here goes.
As we all know, there are thousands of farmers’ markets across the county. Many of them take place outdoors and under temporary structures such as pop-up tents or even just tables. This type of infrastructure will work OK if it is a sunny, warm day. But even if the weather cooperates, the temporary nature of the structure still poses problems such as the inability to wash fruit on-site. So I really like the idea that has been proposed by the Marin County Civic Center Farmers’ Market: build a permanent tensile structure (a long tent-like awning) that provides some protection from the elements, and also creates a signature locale, a landmark. The MCCC structure (as proposed) would also have permanent utilities installed, so that vendors and patrons had access to running water and permanent bathrooms. One last element to creating a more permanent home is that the designated lot would have proper grading and drainage, thus preventing the spontaneous rushing streams that develop on a rainy day.
Having a more permanent infrastructure with the above elements would reduce the overhead costs and general hassle factor for the vendors (mostly small farmers without a lot of extra capital), and would also make it easier for the market administrators. I think having some provisions against inclement weather would also possibly extend the farmers market season.
I really like the MCCC concept because a tensile structure with only a roof, so it will still preserve the feeling of an open-air market. I think it would be something like this: http://tinyurl.com/kuc348.
So, in the end, I’m not suggesting building a brick-and-mortar building (although those are always a nice option as well. See San Francisco Ferry Building.) I just want the farmers’ markets to be imbued with the dignity they so deserve.