Q: How do you know when your local farmers market is a success?
A: When the produce is gone even before the market opens.
That’s what early risers are discovering at the Santa Barbara Farmers Market. Bigger companies are swiping up the fresh greens by placing advance orders, the LA Times reports on its Emerald City green living blog.
“This isn’t a farmers market anymore; it’s some kind of boutique wholesale operation,” one indignant chef is quoted saying.
One possible solution is to offer wholesale hours for the bigger customers.
The full story and the battle over sweet English peas in the Times is here.
Virtual Farmgirl 