County Board: There's Room for all Farmer's Markets

Angela Clapper talks about farmer’s markets during the July 17 Schoharie County Board of Supervisors meeting.

SCHOHARIE COUNTY — There is no plan to eliminate individual farmer's markets around Schoharie County and consolidate them into the new county Farmer's Market, several supervisors emphasized at the Friday, July 17 county Board of Supervisors meeting.

Their comments came after ones made by Angela Clapper during Privilege of the Floor, and a letter was read, both speaking out against a consolidation.

"Please keep all the markets going," said Clapper, who helps with the Seward and Gathering Place Farmer's Markets. "I would like all the markets to get paid fairly. People enjoy the small markets."

The letter from Seward resident Wendy Adams Rosa was read by Supervisor Donald Airey of Blenheim, who said he was not taking sides but simply reading the letter because Adams Rosa was not able to attend the meeting.

"Why must we consolidate?" the letter stated. "A countywide market does not need to replace existing town markets. The two can coexist and serve different purposes, allowing residents and vendors to benefit from both local and regional opportunities."

In the letter, Adams Rosa goes on to point out what she feels are several advantages of maintaining all the various farmer's markets around the county.

"Multiple markets distributed throughout the county create opportunities for vendors to reach more customers while ensuring that economic benefits are shared among all communities rather than concentrated in a single location," the letter continued. "Our local markets have been built and maintained through the dedication of volunteers, municipal leaders, and community organizations that have invested significant time, resources and energy into making them successful."

Supervisor Earl VanWormer III of Esperance shed some light on where the perception of consolidating farmer's markets came from when he said someone told him that is what should happen.

"It was told directly to me these organizations should quit and join the Schoharie County Farmer's Market," VanWormer said. "It was told right to me."

VanWormer did not say during his remarks who it was that said this to him and also declined to identify the person when approached after the meeting.

Other Supervisors were quick to respond to what they said is a mistaken perception.

"There was never an intent with this county Farmer's Market to have all the other farmer's markets join them. I think there has been a misunderstanding about this, a lot of misunderstanding," John Leavitt of Carlisle said.

"There has never been a plan to consolidate any markets," added Alicia Terry of Gilboa, the supervisor who also chairs the Agriculture Committee. "At the end of the day, there is value in every single one. All provide a tremendous value and opportunity for consumers and farmers alike."

County BOS Chairman Bill Federice of Conesville voiced similar thoughts.

"The full BOS would have to pass that (a consolidation) and I don't think anyone on this board would say that," Federice noted. "We have no intention of disrupting anything that is going on."

The Schoharie County Farmer's Market started several weeks ago and is held Sundays in a building at the Cobleskill Fairgrounds.

Comments at the July 17 county BOS meeting came after the board at its June meeting took the first steps toward applying for a $1.2 million grant that, if received, would fund a new building to serve as the permanent home for the county farmer's market but that could also accommodate other markets and uses on other days of the week, county officials said.