Last Saturday was the second Farmers Market for Dixon this season. The weather was an unseasonable cold, windy and gray, not ideal weather for an open air event.
There were three booths selling local produce. R-Grand Ranch, Eatwell Farm and the Farmer from the Strawberry patch on Schroeder Road. Sales were better than the previous week though not enough to make it worth while for the sellers. Also at the market were a bakery with both Latin and European styled baked goods, Kettle Corn and two craft booths.
Missing were two local restaurants but I do not blame them as the sales did not justify their attendance.
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The participating farms had many great fruits, vegetables and dry products all produced locally, one produced organically.
As I looked around at the Market I thought; am I seeing the death of the Dixon Farmers Market in slow motion? Let’s all hope this is not true.
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A healthy Farmers Market is good for the entire community both rich and poor benefit. Those with money get fresh local food and the poor traditionally get the perishables that are not sold. The Farmers get 100% of the sale price for their goods. In return they spend it on labor, tools, equipment, seed and compost most of which are local. The Farmer pays local sales taxes on their sales.
It is a little discouraging when the largest customer of the day is the one at the end of the Market asking for a donation. Seems odd to donate to an organization whose own members do not embrace and patronize the market. One would think that the charity would help to promote the Market so that it could continue getting the unsold produce.
On my way home I passed one of those illegal strawberry sellers on the corner. I smiled and thought it funny how he might in fact have a better return on investment than the farms that went to Market Saturday. There he is without proper permits, license, agricultural inspection, booth fee and he will have more money in his pocket at the end of the day. Thinking back he has been there for several weeks. I find it interesting that the Dixon Police Department has not gone out to shut him down for lack of proper permits.
Next Saturday the citizens will get another chance to buy fresh produce grown in nearly their own back yard. The question is will they?