In last Tuesday's Times-Union I wrote a letter as to what has happened within the operation of the farmers market. I commented that I would fight to get the market back to being a vendor operated and controlled market as it has been for 35 years.
It has been the hard work of the vendors over all these many years, along with a whole lot of support from and by the customers that made the farmers market in this county one of the best in the state. It a very sad situation when those who not only seek out, and then are voted into positions of trust end up violating this trust as these three former market officers have done.
It is because of this situation that I wish to notify all the county vendors who sold produce not only in this year's market but to all of those vendors who refused as I did to sell under these conditions but have in past markets. There will be a meeting held at the Claypool town fire station on Sunday, Nov. 21, from 2 to 4 p.m. for the purpose of the reorganization of the vendor operated market. This meeting will not only be held to elect officers, but also to restore the old market rules as well as any other necessary changes or items that need to be addressed. Since the old market name was stolen, a new one will also have to be chosen.
It is intended that this reorganized vendor market will be a fully operational farmers market by May 1. With my discussions with the State Board of Health, they see absolutely no reason why the WIC program should not be made available to those vendors who participate in or accept these vouchers in this reorganized market (in fact they even offered a new name for it). I highly recommend to those vendors who sold produce in this year's market to attend this meeting. Be it also noted do to time restraints this will be the only meeting conducted for this reorganization.
Be it also be publicly known to those three former officers who caused all these market problems, as well as their family members, will not, under any circumstances be allowed to attend this meeting.
