CC Farmers Market – Local Customers Needed!
Special to the Mirror by Karen Gay. Karen is the Eastern Shore of Virginia Weston A. Price Foundation chapter leader. Consider joining our ESVA Weston A Price Foundation Chapter Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/esvawapf/. For more information contact Karen at 240-393-5625 or karengreergay@pm.me. All are welcome!
I am wondering if the town of Cape Charles can support a Farmers Market. The first two years of the market were pretty good and there was a full panoply of vendors. However last year saw a decline in attendance and some vendors did not return, including our much loved Mattawoman Farms.
There are fewer tents at the Cape Charles Farmers Market and in my opinion, this is because many of our own townspeople do not come to the market. I know that life is busy and it’s hard to remember a time on Tuesday afternoon. But if we do not support the small farmers in our area, we will only be left with produce and meats from the Food Lion or a lengthy trip to Quail Cove. Most of this food is full of pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics and has been transported a long distance. Food grown locally is much more nutritious because it comes to your table directly from the farm. There is no middleman.
“But what about the expense,” I’ve heard people say. The vegetables and meats reflect the time and effort it takes for the farmer to grow them. For instance, Copper Cricket Farm is not certified organic, but they grow their vegetables for nutrition by employing a no-till organic method of farming. This requires a lot of labor to weed and hand pick insects from the leaves. Perennial Roots Farm is biodynamic, providing amped-up nutrition, as well. In addition to vegetables, they provide pork and lamb that have been raised without genetically modified grains and unnatural poisonous additions like ractopomine (a feed additive, banned in most countries, used to promote leanness), typically added to most U.S. pork products. They’ve added herbal tinctures to their line of products and talking to Stuart is like talking to the physician we always wanted. Seafield and our beloved Pickett’s Harbor Farms have been regular vendors at the market with radishes, cucumbers and really cute pottery for the former and peaches and tomatoes for the latter. Edwards Seafood is a regular with crabmeat, scallops and freshly caught fish.
The market has supporting vendors like our local caterer, Kitchen Sync, Um Yummies, She Seeks Wool, W.T. Wilkins’ Honey, Chatham Flower Farm, and the Blooming Farmer at my Lady’s Choice Farm.
I would like to give the market volunteers some help. My questions to you, the reader, are as follows:
- What is stopping you from going to the market?
- What would you like to see in a market that is not being provided?
- What do you think about the timing of the market?
I’d really like if we could all pull together to support our local farmers. We want them to thrive and the only way this will happen is if we turn out and support them.
P. Land says
Having a farmers market during the week deters many people from coming. I have never understood the reasoning behind holding it on a Tuesday. Quite frankly, most weeks I completely forget about it. But come Saturday, I frequently make the trek up to Onancock to their market.
I recently came back from vacation in Maine. Saturday morning there were farmers markets in every little town and the several that we visited drew a good size crowd of mostly local people buying their fresh fruits, vegetables, breads and meats for the week.
Perhaps changing it to a day traditionally set for farmers market will encourage more vendors and attract locals who are not working as well as weekend visitors.
Joseph Francis Corcoran says
I agree . A Saturday or Sunday would be better . It might even attract the beach goers .
jim says
Agreed. Weekends would be better. Most people work during the week and can’t go then.
Kimb Leake Denny says
And yet again, I’ll repeat that a weekend market is *not an option* in Cape Charles right now because most of our vendors and volunteers already have other weekend commitments. Right now, Cape Charles can choose to support some sort of a midweek market, or it won’t have a market at all. Our all volunteer committee would welcome each of your positive and constructive contributions at our next meeting as we work together with our vendors to find a solution that benefits everyone involved – vendors, volunteers, customers, and community.
Neal says
The time of the small healthy farmers is dieing. I would suggest taking advantage of these farmers markets while you are able. And by the way,no till doesn’t mean organic it just means that they are doing minimal tillage. This is good for the farmer and the soil.
Kimb Denny says
Many people ask about our midweek market. The Tuesday afternoon market was actually selected by the vendors themselves, most of whom were already participating in other weekend markets. Most of these small growers can not afford extra staffing and equipment to cover another weekend market
Allison Swan says
I would love to buy produce from the farmers market in Cape Charles.
It’s on a Tuesday. We have a place in Machipongo and are rarely here on Tuesday . We do the bulk of our cooking on the weekend. We like to get our supplies on the way over and enjoy staying home enjoying time with family and friends.
If the market were Saturday morning until 1, it would be worth the drive back to Cape Charles for local produce and you may capture the weekly renters as well.
As for Locals, most are working Tuesday afternoon
Boot Lamb says
It is not for the locals. It is for the come-heres and those passing by on 13. Farmers Markets have been fooling people for many years.
Joseph Francis Corcoran says
In case you didn’t know , ” come here ” in a pejorative used exclusively by the ignoramus.
Margot Gorske says
100% agreed
Karen says
I have to believe the timing is one of the main issues. Most farmers markets I’ve shopped at are Friday or Saturday mornings so people have fresh ingredients/flowers for leisurely weekend meals with family and guests.
Boot Lamb says
Most Farmers Markets sell the same produce found in the grocery stores.
Mary Thomas says
Not this one. Know the farmers personally and have been to their farms. Most produce picked the morning before set up on Tuesday.
Boot Lamb says
I said ‘most’…not ‘this’.
Kimb Leake Denny says
Unfortunately, our vendors and volunteers have other commitments on weekends, so a weekend market is not an option.
Ray Otton says
FWIW, you may be looking at the effect, not the cause.
The word on the street is that the coordinators or administrators or whatever you want to call them have imposed too many rules thus the dearth of vendors.
Not enough vendors and the buying public declines.
Bureaucracy, the longest four letter word in the English dictionary.
Kimb Leake Denny says
Thank you for your comments. We are a 100% local market, so we do not permit resellers of any sort. This ensures that when you buy from our vendors, you’re actually buying from a local farmer or artisan. Our vendors have requested a policy that limits the number of vendors offering a certain product. This helps keep our market offerings in balance.
Our policies are nearly identical to most other farmers markets in Virginia. Most of the regulations are state or federally mandated and come from the health department, or the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs. We are required by our non profit sponsors’ insurance to verify compliance. Verification ensures the highest quality of safe, wholesome, local products for you and your family.
You are invited to join our volunteers and help us to shape policy for the future! Please contact me at capecharlesmarket@gmail.com
Ray Otton says
I don’t know if you are serious or just attempting a bluff. If a bluff, then I call and raise you.
See, the problem is that I’d last about halfway through the first meeting before y’all threw me out for having non-conforming thoughts.
This happened to a close friend with exemplary horticultural credentials who volunteered with the youth garden and ended up doing scut work because she WASN’T from the CC “in crowd.” Left a permanent distaste with both of us for CC. Fortunately Rayfield’s is on the outskirts of town so we don’t have to wade too deep into the morass.
And this is pretty much the same crowd, or those with a similar pedigree in charge if CC farmer’s market. For lack of a better description, a bunch of control freaks:
– Banning controversial t-shirts, based on the Market Managers opinions? And what might those be? Would a red t-shirt be enough of a trigger?
– All products need prior approval from the Market Mangers. In the name of food safety, that’s fine. However, the Market has been banning some vendors from selling products so as to limit competition between vendors………..For instance, let’s say there’s a dedicated flower vendor at the market but another farmer has a small crop of ornamental flowers growing in an unused plot hoping to make a couple of extra bucks with a few bouquets next to his beans. NOT if you have anything to say about it. Here’s a radical idea. How about a free market farmer’s market?
– In addition, vendors submit a list of products they intend to sell, forcing them to predict well in advance what their best crop will be and they cannot add different products without approval. Do you realize you live in an agricultural area which is dependent on a variety of environmental variations? The variations affect crops in different ways so that what a farmer THINKS will be his best crop might be a bust while a secondary crop turns out to be a lifesaver. But the poor farmer has to ask permission to sell tomatoes rather than peaches? Again, does anyone on your BOD understand free market concepts?
– Banning firearms. C’mon, another gun free zone. You know what happens in gun free zones? Massacres, that’s what………. BTW, you’d be SHOCKED to learn how many vendors have Concealed Carry permits and deep pockets.
– Banning vendors from bringing pets. It’s a farmer’s market for Pete’s sake.
– One of your rules states “……..processing and preparation must comply with health codes and marketing labeling requirements REGARDLESS of small producer exemptions.” So Virginia state exemptions for small producers isn’t good enough?????
– Art and artisanal crafts must have an added value of 75% over raw material costs as determined by the Market Managers. That’s a pretty high bar for someone who just wants to make some pin money.
I swear, you control types will wring the joy out of everything before you’re done.
Still interested in my talents?
Kimb Leake Denny says
You’re welcome to join our committee, which is a cooperative made up of our vendors and volunteers. Please email me at capecharlesmarket@gmail.com and I’ll get you onto our volunteer roster.
Nathan Cobb says
Sounds like ‘come-heres’ or yankees to me. They sold The Shore away, acre by acre. I hope they enjoyed their commission checks.
Andrea says
Well said!
Kearn C SCHEMM says
I suggest that we move the FM location to either Central Park or Bay Ave. I simply forget that it is there and since I don’t drive out of town every day, often don’t see the FM. That would not be the case in the Park or on Bay Ave. Moving the FM in town would also allow easier access by pedestrians and bikers.
Nicole says
I agree! A weekend market in the park or bay ave would attract more customers.
Barbara says
I would love to go to CCFM but I am here only Thursday night to Monday morning. The tough thing about Tuesday markets is the people you are feeding and their weekend guests need fresh food toward the end of the week.
Tom Finn says
Saturday is farmers market day across Virginia….I would absolutely stop on Sat. mornings and pick up my fruits and vegetables. Any locally produced products would be welcomed as well.
Better yet a permanant location with a cover and be open Wednesday and Saturdays in season,
Sorin Varzaru says
Whoever decided to have a fm in a Tuesday at 3pm was … uninspired. Most of the time I forget about it.
Chatham Flower Farm says
We alternate between 6! Yes that is 6 farmers markets this year. I alternate on Tuesdays between CCFM and the Rehoboth Beach DE farmers market ( which is 11am-3pm) and I alternate on the weekend between our home market Onancock and Lewes De. Wednesday we do Chincoteague. And we are trying to support a new market established on Saturdays in Cheriton. Why so many? I can not make the revenue if I stick close to home period. That is because of lack of traffic to the markets in general. And it’s not the “come here” that is shopping with me. As a matter of fact I rely on our local customers to support our business. Restrictions at markets need to change locally. The Delaware markets where I do triple the amount of business,( and most of my customers live there year round) don’t have those restrictions. In fact those markets are full of 40 vendors each and the traffic is crazy. So much so that when they open the gate it’s a flood of people coming in. I get that those are tourist towns as well , but isn’t Cape Charles becoming one of those types of towns? Also I completely agree with the fact that the market time or day In Cape charles needs to change. It’s very hard on us as farmers to deal with a late afternoon market….hottest part of the day. It wreaks havoc in my flowers and even though they are freshly cut that very morning……they are terribly wilted by 4pm. Who wants to buy sad looking flowers???? And that essentially means that I have to compost those flowers that I have cut, that are my main business, and make no money. It’s a total loss unless I donate to the church. So how does that keep me in business? And for that reason it is why we went to Delaware in order to keep our business afloat. And we are not the only local Virginia farmers that are going north or going to Virginia Beach to make our money. That is the sad fact …..that we farmers, have to leave our local communities in order to make a buck to keep doing what we do, bringing you the best that we can give you locally, and providing fresh , chemical free food, flowers and herbs. Change is good….but too much change to quick is bad. Why not switch hours before moving the day or vice versa? That may help. I hope it sticks around, I hope Onancock, which is struggling, sticks around.
Anthony says
First off, and it’s been said already- the Market isn’t for locals. I’ll go once or twice a year if I see a new vendor or hear that there are good deals on corn/fruit/other produce. Other than that, I generally find it to be a terrible inconvenience to only have a few hours (in the middle of a work day) to scope out the town’s only farmers market.
Second, if local farmers aren’t able to put food on their tables because they didn’t sell enough product for 3 hours on a Tuesday- they need to get out of farming. You have made it sound like the lack of patronage from townspeople has driven them to the breadlines! The truth of it all, is that the farmers in Cape Charles have pretty hefty contracts with outside buyers and distributors. Those who choose to have a small “storefront,” at the Farmers Market are doing so as a convenience to the out-of-towner and the occasional local who are stopping by. I would think it’s an inconvenience to set up and man a produce stand during working hours on a Tuesday.
There is nothing to lose by switching days! The locals may just want to arrive early on a Saturday to avoid the crowd of aimless children and tourists : )
Move it to the weekend, guys. Nothing but profit will come of it!
Hanson says
Thursday evenings from 4 Pm till ?? Lights BBQ food venders bring people down town
Hope Wright says
Yes, I agree Saturday would be much better for sales bc of the summer people with weekend guests. Farmers need our support! CC Museum/visitor center is good location bc most pass by on their way elsewhere.
Debbie Suddeth says
Many people work during the week. Saturday work much better.
dave says
I once went to your farmers market I bought some coleslaw I had diarrhea and stomack pains for a week.
Kimb Leake Denny says
Hello, my name is Kimb Denny and I am one of the volunteer managers at the Cape Charles Farmers Market. All of our vendors meet appropriate licensing and inspection requirements from VDACS and the health department. We, and they, take any allegation of food taint very seriously. Please contact me directly at capecharlesmarket@gmail.com, or by phone at 757-607-6018
James Raynor says
Why not move the farmers market to Saturday when people don’t have to plan on a workday to visit? This has proven extremely successful fir the many farmers markets in Virginia Beach. As we are only in Cape Charles Friday through a Sunday, we never have the chance to visit.
Kimb Leake Denny says
We are asked this all the time! We have a very limited number of vendors on the Eastern Shore, and our market is too small to attract people from the Hampton Roads area. We share most of our vendors with other markets in the area. When we started four years ago, most of our vendors already had a weekend market, either in Onancock or VB. Our vendors are very small, and can not afford the staffing, truck and other equipment, and additional product it would take to service another weekend market. They asked us to start a midweek market! If we were to move the market to the weekend, we would lose most of our meat and produce vendors.