Farmers Market Politics/Behind The Scenes!

Greetings: I have worked at several different farmers markets in the Tacoma area for the last five years!

Over that five years I have learned a lot about farmers markets and how they are run!  I assisted Steilacoom four years ago in starting their own farmers market.  In the last few months I was on a committee starting the New Lakewood Farmers Market!

Lot's of politics in starting a farmers market!

I had no idea when I got involved.  I would like to hear from other vendors/people who have gotten involved in starting farmers markets and compare stories.  The first thing I have learned is to not get involved. Neither the Steilacoom nor Lakewood  experience has been great!

You would think they would want input from people/vendors who have been working at Farmers Markets. So new managers would not have to make the same mistakes. I guess they like to learn the hard way!

My last experience with the City of Lakewood surpassed the Steilacoom experience!  I think what I was looking for in both situations was/is a little respect! In both situations: I do not think the people in charge even know what the word respect means!

More to come later! I will also being writing about each market as I attend and share with you some of the day to day experiences of being a vendor at FM's! And I will be providing a rating system from 1 to 10 how I would rate that market on that date!