Closing Bell: Malcom X Farmers Market on the Ropes
So much for that momentum we wrote about a couple of weeks ago! Weak community support is threatening the viability of the new Malcom X Farmers Market within the first month of its life, according to an email being circulated from the one of the market’s organizers. The main fresh food vendor, Migliorelli Farms, just…
So much for that momentum we wrote about a couple of weeks ago! Weak community support is threatening the viability of the new Malcom X Farmers Market within the first month of its life, according to an email being circulated from the one of the market’s organizers. The main fresh food vendor, Migliorelli Farms, just announced it’s bailing on the new scene because it’s been unable to cover its labor and gas expenses to date. The problem? Not enough people are coming to the market. This is particularly distressing given how much attention is given by the press and politicians about the desperate (and very real) need for fresh food in some of our poorer communities. (The fresh food argument has been the primary rationale given by the proponents of tearing down Admirals Row to build a supermarket to serve the surrounding housing projects.) Bottom line: If you care about preserving this incredible amenity in the neighborhood, you better vote with your feet and your wallet on Saturday. Otherwise, to paraphrase the organizer’s email, you’ll be proving the haters wrong who said Bed Stuy couldn’t support a farmers market. Don’t let that happen. The Malcom X Farmers Market is held on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1p.m. in front of Jackie Robinson Park on Malcom X Boulevard between Marion and Chauncey Streets
Come Support the Malcolm X Community Market!!! [Bed Stuy Blog]
Photo by Ultraclay
You can lead a horse to fresh, good, non-chemical food, but you can’t make him/her eat (or if he’s obese, probably even get him/her out of the stable).
id grew up on dipsy doodles and koolaid!! and your joke wasnt funny or appreciated.
*rob*
quote:
i dont really give a crap about the whole organic thing.
<3 <3 <3
glad to know im not the only one in brooklyn!
*Rob*
The solution is simple: replace organic, locally-grown produce with dipsy doodles, pork rinds, and kool aide and this market would turn a profit in a few hours.
most farmers markets ive seen anywhere tend to be kinda yuppie-ish so i can’t imagine they do that great in non yuppified neighborhoods. were the prices really high as well? it might just take time for something like this to catch on tho. you always hear that there’s a lack of fresh produce in bed stuy, but is there really any truth to that?
*rob*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at July 28, 2009 4:05 PM
I really do try to like you rob, but your general lack of smarts and soul makes it really really difficult.
bedstuyhoya: there is also a market on Saturdays in the summer on Lewis between Decatur and Macdonough (across from Bread Stuy). It’s city-sponsored (like all the other green markets), but has a youth component.
And I actually think this is part of the problem. Can the neighborhood suddenly support *two* fledgling markets on the same day? Why didn’t they team up to do it together? I’ve been a huge supporter of the other market, which has been slowly improving over the years. Am I supposed to walk there to buy something, and then walk to the other market to support it too? Someone really didn’t think this one through.
Susan etc., y’all should know that very few of the farmers claim to be organic.
And they’re ain’t no oranges grown around here.
susan summed up the reason (at least in nyc) for farmers mkts.
however, if certain communities are experiencing lack of affordable produce despite there being a demand (not organic, not local), they need more of those cart vendors that chinatown has.
Susan,
That’s awesome and I appreciate it fully. I’m willing to pay more for the care taken to grow things on a smaller scale.
But I believe more people than not don’t give two rats asses about that. Especially people on a tight budget.