Reorganization Of Greensboro Farmers Market Didn’t Work

Dear Editor,

This has been on my mind for the past year and I wondered if you could research the Greensboro Farmers Market on Yanceyville Street. Please research the benefits that have come from the “restructuring and organizing” of the farmers market a few years ago. In what ways have the farmers, vendors and, more importantly, the surrounding community benefited since the tumultuous fight a “few” vendors started in an effort to make the farmers market “great and fair to all.” I believe they felt that the vendor/farmer selection was unfair and allowing outsiders.

Up until 2019, I had been going to the farmers market on Yanceyville Street regularly since I was a young girl. I am now 48. I can tell you first hand a few of the negative effects that I have noticed in the past four years. There are fewer vendors overall, all of the vendor tables are not consistently utilized, there are fewer fresh fruit and vegetable vendors, there is less community attendance, there are less well attended community events, there have not been any major renovations, additions or upgrades to the facility, and very little new signage. The marketing is virtually non-existent. Citizens from surrounding neighborhoods no longer have a consistently “bustling” farmers market to purchase fresh, organic food at great prices, etc.

I ask, for what? So that a “few” vendors who deemed themselves to be saviors for something that did not need to be saved. Look at the end result. Don’t take my word for it, pay attention for a few weeks. I am not suggesting or stating that people still do not still go to the farmers market on Yanceyville Street, I am sure some people do – but it’s not the same.  I am saying why can’t both city farmers markets be great and viable for the citizens of Greensboro. Please write a story – I could be wrong. I don’t think so though.

Letitia Vann

 

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