I'm for Farmers Markets and Free Markets

Dear NYC Greenmarket, 

Thank you for the local food! I'm especially grateful for it in a long winter like this one.

As you know I've been spending thousands a year on beautiful local foods at my local Greenmarkets since moving to NYC almost 23 years ago.

As you also know in hearts, your "commodity restrictions" are bad for farmers, producers, and eaters.

Your outdated rules prevent me from buying local food I want, they prevent farmers and producers from selling local food they produce, and they encourage resentments and under-the-table dealing.

"Commodity restrictions" take up a lot of your precious management time and energy. I know this because I grew up selling vegetables at ten farmers markets per week, founded farmers markets in London, England in 1999 (still going strong), founded a market in Mount Pleasant in Washington, DC in 2003 (another still healthy market), and was the Executive Director of our very own beloved NYC Greenmarkets in 2003.

Don't be timid. Be bold. Just drop all the restrictions in the name of the "commodity balance" you're trying to control, and let the market of sellers and buyers sort it out. As long as the item is on the producer's approved "yes we produce it ourselves within the Greenmarket radius" list, let farmers, fisherman, bakers, and producers bring it all to the Big Mouth.

Producers (except those favorites you're trying to protect, for unknown reasons) will thank you. Land preservationists will thank you. Eaters will thank you. 

You'll have more time to recruit farmers and find new market sites. 

You won't regret it.

Yours truly, 

Nina

Union Square Greenmarket in September