How Farmers Markets Could Support More Local Growers

Background

As a local farmher, I have never had access to my local farmers markets…there are 4 farmers markets in Byron Shire. I have written about this issue over the past 3 years. These problems are experienced by farmers nationally. I am in a unique position, being a growher, an ex-stall holder at farmers markets, an educator, consultant, and knowing a lot of farmers, who talk to me about these issues.

How other countries do farmers markets

I have also had experience in farmers markets around the world in my countries of England, India, Turkey and Cyprus. Indeed in many 2nd and 3rd world countries, this is still the primary way that fresh produce is bought and sold. As such, these markets are operating under free market forces, with an enormous amount of high quality foods. They are used by ALL of the community, and actively support local food production, and biodiversity.

Compare this situation to Australian run farmers markets, which often only allow 1 farmer for each kind of produce, and have less than 20% of stalls at the markets as actual farmers.

The resultant trend for this style of farmers markets has seen consumers move away from purchasing fresh produce at the farmers markets. The majority of Australians source their fresh produce from supermarkets, shops, health food stores, and the like. This leaves a lot of farmers markets increasingly occupying the position of tourist, and breakfast markets, rather than active supporters of local food production, and food sovereignty.

So what’s the problem with farmers markets?

1. RESELLING:

The vast majority of Australian farmers markets allow registered resellers into the markets. The resellers are sourcing their produce from the large distributors that also supply our supermarkets, shops, health food stores etc. This situation makes it challenging for small local farms, who are forced to compete against them. Unfortunately, we now have the situation of some farmers at farmers markets reselling produce as well, as they feel they are no longer able to compete, and it is impossible for the consumer to know the difference.

2. ANTI-COMPETITIVE:

We have laws in Australia that are supposed to protect against the situation of business’s being denied access to markets based upon existing businesses not wanting the competition. When we allow for free market conditions, and consumers to choose, as is prevalent in other countries around the world, and mandated by law…We create a situation where there is increased diversity and quality of produce (which is great for consumers), and growers working co-operatively together, rather than competing against each other (which is great for growers).

3. FARMERS STALLS:

In my local farmers markets there are 75 stall allocations. However, only approx 8-10 of them are given to farmers, or farmer resellers. This limits the amount of produce available at the farmers markets. The other stalls are given to businesses that produce value added goods, (they do not have to source local ingredients), or coffee / breakfast stalls, clothing, crafts, seedling/plant stalls etc.

4. FARMERS MARKET BOARDS:

New stall allocations, mostly need to be approved by the board of the farmers market, depending on how it is structured. However, it is sometimes the case that interested parties (including stall holders), sit on the board, and vote on new stall applications, or that the board members are not rotated. This is an obvious conflict of interest.

5. LOCAL FARMS FIRST: 

I find it a frustrating circular argument, that farmers markets claim to be supporting local growers, when they have given the stall spots to farms that are not local, and refuse to let in local farms, as they say they already have farms.

This policy by farmers markets actually forces local farms like mine, to have to sell my produce outside my local area. This is in direct opposition to the mission of most farmers markets to increase local food sovereignty, and address climate change through reducing food miles, and providing access to locally grown produce.

So how could farmers markets be fairer for farmers?

1. RESELLING:

Reselling in farmers markets needs to be limited. Resellers, and farmer resellers, should only be allowed to sell what is not being grown and sold locally.

2. LOCAL:

I suggest, that farmers markets have a preference for farms within a 20km radius of the market site (or at least live in the shire, or locality of the market). If a farm is accepted into the farmers market that is travelling from outside the locality, then it should be under the proviso, that if a farm starts within the local region, that they will be required to give up their spot. It would be an enormous breakthrough if we could have 7-8 market stall spots reserved at each market for local growers of fresh produce, this would still only be 10% of the stalls available to be allocated. In this way we can support new local farms, to enter the space, and truly support the development of local food sovereignty, in all areas. Carbon emissions from food miles is up to 20% of the global total, so this is a practical way to address climate change, and encourage local produce to be sold locally.

3. FARMERS MARKETS BOARD:

People that have stalls at the market should not be allowed to decide on new stall applications. To support a fairer farmers market system, and prevent cliques from forming, people should not be allowed to serve on the farmers market board, or deciding panel, for more than 2 years consecutively.

4. AUDITING:

Many farmers markets have a policy of auditing your farm when you are being considered for a stall. This is a great policy, I support it 100%, however, many markets do not follow up this auditing in any future years. So, we have the situation of farmers gaining access to the markets, and then stopping production and reselling  A random auditing policy adopted by farmers markets for all stall holders who claim to be growing, would be a workable solution here).

There have been several attempts to start another farmers market in Byron Shire over the years, however, the existing farmers markets oppose another market.

We would love to see, a local growers only – afternoon farmers market, to support new, young, and existing growers, that currently do not have access to the farmers markets in our region.

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