“… countries that have business-friendly regulations and low tariffs have a higher incidence of obesity than countries with more tightly regulated economies.”
Kitchen Gardener pods
Markets can do well to encourage kitchen gardeners to socialize and find ways to encourage share information – maybe even to curate those discussions at the market.
L3C designation
As many of you may know from the listserve postings and from this blog, I am beginning to do research on types of governance of markets and market organizations. Interestingly, I find that many organizers that I am chatting with simply believe that they cannot get 501c3 status (mostly through informal local advice they get or even during the first foray to I.R.S.) or think the 501c3 process will be too long or arduous. In response, they incorporate as other types of 501s that do not allow donations or make it easy to receive grants. Just as often, many seem to not do any incorporation which, until a terrible thing happens and those running the thing are held financially responsible and lose their personal property as a result, may feel like enough. This is particularly of concern to me when markets are run by a farmer and therefore operating without a corporation or LLC designation may mean endangering the farm itself.
One of the options may ultimately be the L3C designation. As I was beginning this post, I received a call from a friend who works with a foundation (that does not fund food work, sorry!). Upon hearing what I was writing about she shared that she is also researching the L3C as a way to help innovative social enterprises that will not be covered under their grant-making rules.
While still largely untested, the low-profit limited liability incorporation may become useful for food enterprises, such as farmers markets. It means that profit is possible but profit is secondary to the general purpose and good of the organization. It allows for program-related investments (PRI) from foundations in states that have authorized it. So far, legislation has been passed in Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, North Carolina, Utah, Vermont, and Wyoming with many other states having introduced legislation.
So take a look and I’ll have more on this later…
L3C
Stifled by corporate America, the young turn to farming
Well maybe they’re stifled, or maybe they want to farm…
Community Food Security Coalition in 2012
A letter from the team at CFSC about our plans and hopes for 2012:
Vendor neighbors
Yeah, there are some differences between art vendors and farmers market vendors, but still, there is something here for all market managers to understand.
Olive this.
This is a great story about someone finding growing food as a second life. Wonderful really.
Public market anchors
An article about the iconic Easter Market in Detroit MI with input from from director Dan Carmody and the editors at Treehugger who make some very good points about why markets should matter to planners and why good planning is still necessary for the Rust Belt:
“…the advantages rust belt cities will have in the future, with their water, their transportation infrastructure of rail, road and canal; their temperate climate in a warmer world.”
Supermarkets feedback: “specialty market gone corporate”
An interesting view of grocery stores using “alternative concepts” as a marketing ploy. (cheat sheet-some see right through it)
Am I being whiney and ungrateful? Yes. Wegmans responds to every item on my consumer wish list. It has consistency and dependability. It won’t be sold to some large chain that will destroy its quality, as was the case with Kings and Zagara’s. But that’s the problem. It is the large chain. It’s the specialty market gone corporate. In the tradition of American cooptation of the alternative option, it has made the alternative option into standardized fare.
Calling All Food-Based Businesses: New book seeks your capital-raising stories!
New book on financing food-based businesses seeks your capital raising stories.
Global Calories Consumed – Visual
Important to remember where we sit within the global system in areas that really count.
Map
Bakers dozen of carbon mile trips
My Toronto colleague Wayne Roberts has written an excellent piece on the miles it takes to get food to you. Even though I can imagine how many of these that most of us have seen, this one really breaks it down so “civilians” can get the enormity. Another good piece to add to your market newsletter…
Bakers denizen
A great quick story about some entrepreneurial bakers that vend at the 14th and U Washington DC market run by Robin Shuster. Using shared space, they are building their business slowly but pretty darn well it seems by the article. That Robin was the spark for their business does not surprise me; having met her, I can verify she is a classic market organizer- part connector and visionary and full-time urger!
Robin runs both the 14th and U Saturday market and the Bloomingdale Sunday market as well in DC. Her excellent website is found here
Post story
(This Post story may require an account to access by the way.)
Mississippi Market Manager is awarded the 2011 Hosa Meyer Award
Another example of a farmers market manager being recognized for community engagement. Diane has been tireless in her work to create healthy activities along the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, even as she rebuilt her own life after Hurricane Katrina took her house. Diane (and her business partner at Real Food Gulf Coast, Dita McCarthy) show the level of partnership that is possible with city governments and business communities that want markets.
Ocean Spring MS-The prestigious HOSA Bob & Virginia Meyer Award for 2011 was awarded to Ocean Springs Fresh Market organizer Diane Claughton on Saturday evening, December 3rd at the HO HO HOSA event in the Ocean Springs Community Center. The stunned Claughton received a huge ovation by the large crowd of nearly 200 attending the annual event. The award comes with a bronze plaque and a $5,000 cash award.
When announcing Claughton as the Meyer Award, HOSA President Melanie Allen said the Committee who made the choice for the 2011 Meyer Award was unanimous in selecting Claughton as the recipient. “We all recognize that Diane was instrumental in creating this successful Fresh Market event that is now a regular part of Saturday mornings for many people & families, said Allen “By being at the Depot location, she has created an event that brings shoppers downtown who buy from the local growers & vendors at the Fresh Market, and then these same people also eat breakfast at one of the restaurants downtown and then buy gifts at our specialty shops as they stroll our streets. The value of the Fresh Market has real economic impact for the City. It also teaches us the value of eating local fresh foods as they grow and become available season to season. Diane has a regular schedule of cooking events and interesting classes that provide free community education at the Fresh Market as well.”
Diane Claughton started Ocean Springs Fresh Market in 2004. A former librarian and chef, Diane started the Fresh Market to help supply consumers with quality, locally grown or prepared food products, to support local sustainable agriculture and to educate consumers about the health and social benefits of locally grown or prepared food. She is also co-founder of Real Food Gulf Coast.
HOSA: the Historic Ocean Springs Association is an active community organization whose mission is to make public improvements using donated funds. The HOSA Bob & Virginia Meyer Award is presented annually by HOSA. The cash award presented is income on funds that the Meyer’s donated to HOSA for the purpose of giving an annual award for “any endeavor that helps or improves the ambiance of Historic Ocean Springs” as the selection committee guidelines state.
Though she confessed to being “Gobsmacked” when she was announced as the Meyer Award winner, Diane said she “would like to thank HOSA for the award, which I feel is also an award to the vendors, past and present, of the Fresh Market. I would also like to thank the Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce for allowing the Fresh Market to take place in their parking lot, and the City of Ocean Springs for the wonderful redevelopment of the Chamber parking lot. I thank the HOSA organization on behalf of everyone involved with the Fresh Market for recognizing what our little Saturday market brings to Ocean Springs.”
The 2011 winner of the HOSA Bob & Virginia Meyer Award Diane Claughton is presented the HOSA check for $5,000 as part of her honor by HOSA president Melanie Allen.
Helping Farmers Markets Grow 