In a previous update I shared a link about the value of Third Places- places that foster social interaction outside ones home and workplace.  Here are 4 things you can do at the market tomorrow and the week that follows:

1) When you purchase a vegetable, eggs, meat or fish ask the farm stall attendanant or famer what's their favorite way to prepare it?

2) Ask the attendee at the farm stall if they have a book, TV series or movie to recommend.

3) Ask what vegetable seeds are being planted now in the greenhouses.

4) Ask your neighbors about the vendors that they look forward to shopping with and then follow-up with why .

Do at least one of the items above and that will help with fostering relationships between shoppers and vendors.  It has always been those relationships that seperate the HFM from other markets.

I have been a shopper since the market first opened in May of 1997 and I started volunteering in May of 1998.  In the Fall of 2006 Mike Navarra (my late husband) and I were recognized as HFM volunteers of the year.  When you attend something on such a regular basis it can be difficult to discern a shift in a community vibe.  Such has been my situation.

But with time between visits knowledgable people know it, they community vibe has degraded.  Below are comments from two previous market managers that they shared when they signed the petition.

Sara Broderick

  "When I managed this farmers market over ten years ago, I worked closely with vendors to turn it into a year-round market that would be beneficial to both farmers and the community. When I left the market in 2011, both vendors and community members had a strong say in the operation of the market. In the last four or so years, the market has become almost unrecognizable to me. I am not against change, but the market doesn’t make sense to me anymore. Farms that were there since almost the start of market (and who still vend at other nearby markets) left. And conversations with long-time vendors and volunteers indicated that HFM’s history and traditions were no longer important to the Board or employees. HFM is such a jewel and can be again. I am completely baffled at the removal of Nourishment as well as the layout of the market, the weird street closures on 44th & 45th, and the ratio of farms to value-added product vendors. I really hope that the current Board and employees of the market are willing to work with Anne and others who have organized this petition to reflect on the way they have decided to run this community market."

Francesca Benedetti

  "I proudly and effectively served as the HFM Market Manager from from 2015-2019, and ended my time there because I decided to relocate to another state. The relationships I formed with our farmers and locally focused food producing vendors are still relations I have today. I made sure we had farmer vendors on the board, and for the most part people felt their voices heard, needs addressed, and a sense of supportive community every single week. Casual conversations with vendors often turned into Board Agenda issue, or a meeting to address more significant issues.   On my last Saturday as Market Manager (early August 2019), the entire market came to cheer for me and express their gratitude for all that work we did together over those years. I was balling like a baby just feeling so surrounded with love, support and the recognition of a job well done. I’m saddled to tears now learning of all the changes made by current staff and Board members that deteriorates the values that were built up by the HFM community over the last 28 years. I still visit the market when in Portland, unfortunately the changes are palpable to someone that knows the space and people very well. It will be a long felt loss to the Hollywood and great Portland community if the current decision makers for HFM are unable to find a way to repair the damage and injustice being brought forth.   Sincerely, Francesca Benedetti Agricultural Programs Specialist The Farm Collaborative - Aspen Colorado"