By: Jne Trumbolit
(Oct 10, 2021)
I don't know if this market has gone downhill or i just learned more. Last year there were rumors that were quickly confirmed that a vendor had been posting ...lets say racially insensitive to be as nice as possible. Anyway, a vendor was posting basically a bunch of conspiracy stuff on an account linked to their farm. It's a small community of locals , many of us were really upset about the content and that this behavior was not just tolerated but defended.
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I tried to go to the market this year, despite the offensive vendoe returned. It just was hard to support the management. I found I can purchase from ACTUALLY LOCAL farms easily outside the market. This way the farm makes more profit...they pay a decent amount just to set up at the market. And many of the vendors are as offended as us regular customers at the management decisions.
One thing they should do is limit the range...most markets consider 75-100miles local...they extend to 150 miles. Sorry, but that's not local to me.
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I'm really sorry for your experience, but much of the information you shared is not accurate. I participate in several markets in the greater DC area and the Shepherdstown Farmers market is by far the least expensive market for the vendors in the area, It is also by far the most "local". Most come from the eastern panhandle and none more than 35 miles. We are just 5 miles up the road. Not sure what racially insensitive information you are referring to, but I did hear rumors about someone innocently posting about a "frog" that they later learned was considered to be "racist". When they learned, they immediately removed the post - but were viciously attached by certain members of the community who were determined to try and destroy them. Regardless, you are free to not shop from any vendor you choose, but that certainly isn't a reason to boycott the whole market. We are mostly just local farmers trying our best to feed our community with healthy local food. You'd be hard pressed to find a more authentic local market anywhere.