Comments on: Who Says We Need a Public Market http://www.thelocalbeet.com/2009/03/04/who-says-we-need-a-public-market/ A practical guide to eating local, in and around Chicago Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:39:31 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: robininwinter http://www.thelocalbeet.com/2009/03/04/who-says-we-need-a-public-market/comment-page-1/#comment-202 robininwinter Wed, 04 Mar 2009 22:41:39 +0000 http://www.thelocalbeet.com/?p=1344#comment-202 What Rob fails to mention is that the first time he mentioned the prospect of a year-round, fixed, public market, I asked him, "Where should it be?" "Why, Oak Park, of course!" At least that's how I remember the conversation. And therein lies the problem. Anyone who wants it, wants it near them. To be fair, I've since heard other ideas for locations from Rob. I'm not opposed to "my" winter market vendors finding other outlets--in fact, the winter markets I coordinate have the best interests of the farmers at their core--but I guess I'm afraid that if a public market is a 7-day proposition, as many are, the growers and producers won't be able to be there (they've got chores to do) and the market would devolve into a meat-and-cheese-and-crafts emporium to fill the space. In general, I'm more interested in wide accessibility of good, local foods year-round; in fact, I assume that we'll start seeing many of the area markets extending their seasons and going year-round . . . and my work will be done! Thanks to Rob and Michael for attending and writing about the Winter Farmers Markets. Rob has been a regular, and drags his family all over town to get there. (I don't see many complaints when they're sitting down to a full local brunch or nibbling on one of Angie Ackerman's Vietnamese spring rolls.) He's been to markets with 3 or 4 vendors last year, and has seen them grow to 15-20 vendors at some locations this year. If you haven't yet made it, there's still time....9 more to go through the end of March. For a complete schedule, go to www.localharvest.org/farmers-markets/M19510. [Rob's been after me to contribute to The Local Beet. Note to Rob: be careful what you wish for!] What Rob fails to mention is that the first time he mentioned the prospect of a year-round, fixed, public market, I asked him, “Where should it be?” “Why, Oak Park, of course!” At least that’s how I remember the conversation. And therein lies the problem. Anyone who wants it, wants it near them. To be fair, I’ve since heard other ideas for locations from Rob.

I’m not opposed to “my” winter market vendors finding other outlets–in fact, the winter markets I coordinate have the best interests of the farmers at their core–but I guess I’m afraid that if a public market is a 7-day proposition, as many are, the growers and producers won’t be able to be there (they’ve got chores to do) and the market would devolve into a meat-and-cheese-and-crafts emporium to fill the space.

In general, I’m more interested in wide accessibility of good, local foods year-round; in fact, I assume that we’ll start seeing many of the area markets extending their seasons and going year-round . . . and my work will be done!

Thanks to Rob and Michael for attending and writing about the Winter Farmers Markets. Rob has been a regular, and drags his family all over town to get there. (I don’t see many complaints when they’re sitting down to a full local brunch or nibbling on one of Angie Ackerman’s Vietnamese spring rolls.) He’s been to markets with 3 or 4 vendors last year, and has seen them grow to 15-20 vendors at some locations this year.

If you haven’t yet made it, there’s still time….9 more to go through the end of March. For a complete schedule, go to http://www.localharvest.org/farmers-markets/M19510.

[Rob's been after me to contribute to The Local Beet. Note to Rob: be careful what you wish for!]

]]> By: kennyz http://www.thelocalbeet.com/2009/03/04/who-says-we-need-a-public-market/comment-page-1/#comment-200 kennyz Wed, 04 Mar 2009 18:31:00 +0000 http://www.thelocalbeet.com/?p=1344#comment-200 I think I agree with both of you. This may sound like pie-in-the-sky thinking, but I don't think it is unreasonable to wish for several "permanent" markets. The largest would surely be near downtown, but we'd also have several in outlying areas. In my ideal world, the downtownish market would be open something like Wednesday through Saturday. Then on Sundays, places like Oak Park, Beverly, Northbrook, etc. would have their markets. Neighborhoods that felt left out could try to coordinate a Tuesday evening market. I think I agree with both of you. This may sound like pie-in-the-sky thinking, but I don’t think it is unreasonable to wish for several “permanent” markets. The largest would surely be near downtown, but we’d also have several in outlying areas. In my ideal world, the downtownish market would be open something like Wednesday through Saturday. Then on Sundays, places like Oak Park, Beverly, Northbrook, etc. would have their markets. Neighborhoods that felt left out could try to coordinate a Tuesday evening market.

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