Posted on 09/18/2004 9:06:40 AM PDT by Cagey
WASHINGTON (AP) - Bill and Vickie Thomas find in Columbus, Ohio, what they never will see at their farm: a million potential customers a year at the North Market, a farmers' market. It's that traffic level that has allowed them to hold on to their family farm.
"It gives us a so-called store where there's lots of people," said Thomas, who grows apples, peaches, plums and blueberries in Philo, about an hour east of Columbus.
"When you sit ... at the farm and wait for them to come, it just doesn't happen," he said. "Farmers' markets are what's keeping small farmers alive."
The number of such markets nationwide grew 79 percent between 1994 and 2002, and more than 3,100 are in business now, the Agriculture Department says.
Some are more than 100 years old and in need of repair. Federal money to do that or construct new markets is now available to cities with fewer than 50,000 people.
Elsewhere, many farmers, market owners and larger cities say they are too cash-strapped to do needed repairs on their own.
Ron Paul is leading an effort in Portland, Ore., to build a year-round indoor market. He said a seasonal farmers' market has thrived in the city for 10 years. Community leaders want to build a permanent bazaar that could offer a variety of items related to food, from fresh produce to cooking utensils.
Paul estimates about $15 million would be required to complete work so a public market could move into a renovated historic building. "We are just absolutely crying for an increase in federal assistance for this," he said.
Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, wants the next major farm bill, which Congress will write in 2006, to include a new program that would provide up to $50 million a year to build new farmers' markets and refurbish older ones.
"The survival of family farmers in our country is going to depend on their ability to market to the consumers, most of which live in the suburbs and cities," Kaptur said. The former urban planner is the senior Democrat on the House Appropriations agriculture subcommittee.
Donita Anderson has started four markets in the Cleveland area since 1995 and says she has requests from 25 other Ohio cities that want to open them. "Our farmers sell out everywhere they go," she said.
Other directors of farmers' markets say federal help is needed to revitalize older markets, some of which are in decaying urban areas.
"On the outside, our market looks really nice, but on the inside, it really has a lot of things that need to be done like pipes and roof repairs," said Eileen Nowak, president of the board of directors for the Broadway Farmers Market in Buffalo, N.Y.
The 116-year-old market in a poor neighborhood attracts 300,000 people during the two weeks leading up to Easter. Nowak envisions the market becoming a bustling attraction during the rest of the year.
"We feel that without the market thriving, the neighborhood won't thrive," she said. "We've got so much potential, but unfortunately money is an issue."
Dan Madigan, executive director of the Farmers Market Association of Toledo, Ohio, said his annual budget for operating expenses, advertising and repairs comes from the $400-a-year rental fee it charges 50 members. That leaves no money for upgrades.
"We want to install radiant heating to allow the farmers to continue selling through the winter" in the 172-year-old market, Madigan said. "We also have some plans in place to change the market configuration and ease parking concerns, but right now there isn't the resources."
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Where's the WPA (and their bottomless checkbook) when you need them?
Ohio will get whatever they want from the feds, at least till Nov 3rd.
Only a Dem would dare to pretend that these markets are being run as successful businesses. A successful business would have a revenue plan that supports reinvestment in maintenance and repairs. There already is a government-sponsored program available to these markets -- small business loans. Of course, that requires a business plan that would satisfy a creditor.
And here I thought that farmers could maybe figure out how to handle things by themselves.
I am not for subsidies so don't get me wrong here, I think they should pay for their own place of business just like everyone else. But remember that the farmers have to spend alot of money to earn that 50,000 first. Kind of like corporate profits doesn't mean revenue.
Which is why most farming is better done by larger entities with better access to capital.
The Federal Creed: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. If it stops moving, subsidize it.
The local Farmers Market rents space in a couple of places 3 days/nights a week. Fairgrounds--Local Park--Parking lot of small strip mall after 5 PM. They do quite well, and the overhead is minimal.
Get inventive- School parking lots are empty most nights, and the perimeter edges could support farmers markets trucks with folding tarp covers erected. There is absolutely NO need for any permanent fixtures like a building. There are at least 30 vendors at the fairgrounds every Sat AM. in the growing season. In Ohio, I'll bet the growing season is less then where I am.
Maybe so, but you just can't find a better place to raise kids than a farm. No if, and, or buts.
My father was raised on a farm and all he could think about growing up was getting out of there.
we are on same page. when I did a study on farm revenue - thinking it might be part of my next life - I found that earnings of 200K are common but net averages less than 60K. The exception is when the earnings climb over 500K then the numbers jump off the scale.
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