For the two thousand folks (give or take) who shop at the Redding Certified Farmers Market downtown on Saturday mornings, the question still is, does anyone care about the uneven gravel and rock surface on which half the vendors have to set up?
A few weeks ago I wrote about this, and it hit home again on a recent Saturday when we were picking up our vegetables and fruits.
Where Duzie’s was giving a cooking demonstration, much like what our Doni Greenberg did in July, there was a good crowd sitting in the shade, and a much larger crowd standing around the perimeter of the demonstration.
Most of this “standing area” was in the dust and dirt, in the direct sun, and with the temperatures rising, not a very comfortable scene.
Why do we allow this to go on? Is anyone concerned, other than the vendors?
To start with, the market is not just a “temporary fixture” in town. It has been there for many years and will continue to be a part of the Redding scene from May through November each year. It will continue to be a place where a number of vendors will bring their product for sale, and it will continue to generate about $500,000 to this aspect of our local community each year.
Secondly, it is more than just a “market” — it is a gathering place for both vendors with specialty products and buyers who want something they cannot get at Raley’s or Winco. From artistic handmade soaps to Churn-Creek-bottom vegetables, there is a lot to choose from.
Thirdly, it is the only place in town on Saturday where you can come out and meet your friends and neighbors in a non-rush, non-commercial setting and just enjoy an hour or so of kind of “doing nothing,” with no parking or crowd hassles. Yes, we have the nice Mt. Shasta Mall, and we have great stores, but we do have another place like the Farmers Market?
Change only happens when someone calls attention to an issue. If we are going to change the physical conditions at the Farmers Market, citizens of Redding need to make this concern known to the City Council.
With the upcoming elections, this might be a good question to ask of the candidates. This will also tell us if our candidates are really in tune with a local weekly activity that a lot of people enjoy and make part of their weekly schedules. Time will tell, but make your concerns known.
