Raise the Hammer

I would like to see more local farmers and butchers and cheese people as well as artisans in the market. Too many stall holders just go to the Ontario Food Terminal and pick up stuff like the grocery stores. I hope the new market really reflects at least seasonally the 100 mile radius idea.

While the 100-mile number makes sense from a local-economy perspective (which is great), there's some interesting work that shows that local isnt always the "greenest/eco" option.

a good start: http://www.grist.org/article/food-fight-...

Just curious why 100 mile? Why not 160 km?

the impact of the food system on the environment is messy, complex and hard to understand at times.

instead, we chose nice round numbers and feel good about ourselves and our ethical consumer decisions.

they had better not lose the best coffee bean supplier in the city, the Colombian stall!!

If we focus our food choices on any one factor in isolation we miss the point. Organic, local, vegan, low-in-trans-fats, etc. The only way we're going to end up with better food is to consider all aspects, not just crusade about one of them.

The whole local vs. organic debate is a bit of a joke as far as any serious food activist I know sees things. The organics movement in the Hamilton area is driven almost entirely by local farmers and gardeners. And while many do import food, it's often through personal connections to similar operations elsewhere. No supermarket I know of can claim this.

The kind of personal connections forged at markets is a very important part of this process.

I like the focus on artisans, which could bring a more interesting experience to market goers. I am worried however that most local artists could not afford a full time stall.

It might be interesting to create a special artisan area where one could rent a very small space with its own roll down gate - so that artists could spend much less than full stall prices and not have to be there during full business hours.

Either way, I am really looking forward to seeing the new market

Comment edited by seancb on 2010-09-15 11:19:51

I am worried however that most local artists could not afford a full time stall.

Can you say 'artisan co-op'? Artists could pool their money to pay for a stall and take turns operating it.

I'd hate to see my favourite, originally-from-Italy Italian lady's (I know I should say woman, but somehow, "Italian woman" doesn't really describe her) cheese stall get the boot because of these criteria.

That was my first reaction when I originally read the article about the fewer stalls. But my mind was at ease when I saw this in the criteria: 'Other Stallholders selling compatible products - like fish, cheese and spices - that promote the broad purpose of the Market;'

Before I lose all faith I am going to trust that there will be a fair process implemented by the City. With the state of Jackson Square it would make sense for Yale to get on board and make some provisions for some additional market-style vendors located in proximity to the new market.

I agree with the above in general but also wish to point out the value of having some OTF-type vendors and lower grade produce available for the many market patrons who cannot afford to buy local, organic or specialty items. I was chatting with a farmer and very long-term stall holder just last week who was making this point as well. I see many people at the market buying up the heavily discounted produce. My grocery store doesn't keep older or bruised produce around, so I go to the market to buy old bananas for banana bread.

Sarah, I agree 100%. We don't want to get rid of all the OTF vendors. Just limit how many we need in one market.

Eminently jukeable. Bottle some inedible slop you’re 20-35 points richer. Make some sock monkeys as well and you’ve bagged another 20-35.

Should be interesting to see how much genuinely organic product merits no "organic" points because it hasn't been officially certified as such. And also what steps market management will take to stop anyone with a magic marker from labelling their products organic, with no proof of such and only the vaguest provenance.

I do agree that an overall goal of focusing on local farmers, artisans, etc., is important, but the idea of culling the stall owners by using the market renovation as an excuse and developing a set of criteria that is intended to accomplish this leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

Let's face it: this will affect minorities most of all. I feel really bad for the extended Asian families that will likely be affected by these new rules.

Regardless of our overall goals for the market and what it ought to offer, let's not forget that livelihoods will be damaged or destroyed by these changes and families will suffer as a result.

@ adrian: "the idea of culling the stall owners by using the market renovation as an excuse and developing a set of criteria that is intended to accomplish this leaves a bad taste in my mouth."

Yeah, it kind of reeks of constructive dismissal. Then again, the market has always been intensely political – and sometimes tense to the point of backstabbing, territory grabs and fisticuffs.

You could also kind of see this coming from the reno renderings and all that generous amounts of space to meander with your life partner or make aimless small talk about lifestyle choices while lounging on Verner Panton chairs.

The market needs a variety of healthy food, that is the intent, fresh farm food supporting local farmers, (fresh and nutrient rich food doesn't have to be transported over long distances and picked under ripe from over pesticided farms) The market can sell lots of healthy organic foods too, and specialty foods, spices, coffees etc. There are just too many stall holders heading down the highway to the Ontario Food Terminal picking up what we can buy at the grocery store. Our market was originally meant to be a farmers market for the region and it just grew into other things. Let's support local farmers, butchers and area agricultural jobs etc. Not a cattle ranch in Texas, etc.

Comment edited by lettie on 2010-09-17 12:59:24