Jackson Free Press

The new Mississippi Farmers' Market, brainchild of Agricultural Commissioner Lester Spell, opened in February at a cost of $4 million, and first stirred up controversy when it displaced vendors working in the longstanding Jackson Flea Market occupying the same ground.

Since the June 3 grand opening, vendor participation had been unsteady, with the market only recently open daily between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Since February, the market was open only on Saturday, which failed to draw the weekday lunchtime crowd envisioned for the market.

The farmers' market on Woodrow Wilson has hardly felt a hit, however, with more than three regular vendors and two wholesale businesses supplying restaurants as far away as Madison. The Woodrow Wilson market has been open six days a week for years and is familiar with its customers.

"I don't go to the new market at the fairgrounds," says Jackson resident Dorothy Triplett, despite living closer to the new market on High Street. "I just haven't had an urge to change."

Since opening its first stall, the Mississippi Farmers' Market has been cannibalizing neighboring markets by enticing vendors.

"Most of our vendors were asked to go to that market, even our arts and crafts people, but we're real positive about that other market, and we're hoping we can play off each other, and we encourage our vendors to change venue every opportunity, and we support them when they go anywhere," said Belhaven Market overseer Kathy Massey. "Some of our older vendors are there because they're selling more there, but we're not going to discourage them from doing their best. Some of our vendors are planning to set up stands at both locations."

Massey said the Belhaven market is still doing brisk business, with a waiting list of vendors still looking to set up shop at the Belhaven location.

"I've had 10 people apply for booths this week. We've tripled in size since last year, so we're not being hurt by the new market. If anything, I'm wondering if having two markets is better," Massey said. "Last month, we paid about $1,300 in sales tax, and it may have been better than that. We are self-sufficient."

The Belhaven market offers space for a $25 monthly fee, offers live entertainment, from bluegrass to '60s music, and has a convenient location off I-55 at the Fortification Street exit.

Belhaven market vendor W. Joseph Pettit sells chemical-free vegetables and fruits as well as cage-free eggs. Pettit said he likes the mood set at the Belhaven market, even though a stall at the new Farmers' Market allows him to store more produce.

"I like the flavor of the crowd here at Belhaven," Pettit said. "I mean, I've lived here. I know the people, I know the neighborhood, and I've got friends here who like what I bring to the market. You can't find this just anywhere."

Pettit said he has been petitioned by employees at the new farmers' market to relocate to the fairgrounds, and said he is tempted to set up a stand in both locations, but emphasizes that he can't see himself completely abandoning his current spot.

"I wouldn't want to leave," Pettit said. "It suits me just fine."

Other vendors back at the old farmer's market are not so laissez-faire.

"Lester Spell basically put his finger in my face and said, 'move to the new location or get out,'" says produce seller Brenda Langham, whose family has had a stall at the old market for more than 50 years. "There were complications from the start. We told him this new venture of his was going to be a $4 million waste of the taxpayers' money."

Woodrow Wilson market vendor Becky Patrick says the new market is unfit for permanent stalls like hers. Vendors at the new market are required to take all their produce away at the end of the day and must draw lots to determine a new location each morning. Patrick says that and the absence of electric coolers make keeping large amounts of produce uneconomical.

"I'm sure Spell is a good man and a good veterinarian, but he knows absolutely nothing about raising produce to sell to the consumer. He knows nothing about keeping the food fresh and safe for the consumer to eat," says Langham, adding that Spell was determined to close down the old market and began issuing ultimatums to vendors as early as 2004.

"We had signs hanging up all over the market here, saying 'write to your legislator' to stop the closing of this market, and Spell ordered us to take those signs down or leave the booth," Langham said.

Spell did not return calls to the JFP.

The signs were up long enough for state legislators to get the message, however. During the last session, Rep. Blaine "Bo" Eaton, D-Taylorsville, chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, inserted an amendment to the Public Buildings and Grounds Appropriations Bill, transferring operations of the Belhaven market from the Dept. of Agriculture to the Dept. of Finance and Administration, where it will sit for two years, with an option to renew after that time. Eaton says he submitted the bill "to give vendors and farmers time to adjust to the new location."

Langham says the new market has actually been a boon for business.

"All our customers heard we were closed and came by to see if it was true," Langham said. "We're glad to say it's not. As far as I'm concerned, this here is the real farmers' market."

Previous Commentsshow

Part of the problem is that the new farmers market is "MS only" goods. Or at least that was the concept. The other farmers market has had some of the same out of state vendors for years - with no complaints from the MS growers. It was just one big extended family. But, once you build something nice and exclude some of the folks while accepting others, you are going to run into market problems. They could have had a MS section and an out of state section. My guess is if they had approached this differently then it would be a thriving success right now. Instead the state has pitted two groups against one another who once worked side by side.

pikersam

Jun 21 2006

"My guess is if they had approached this differently then it would be a thriving success right now. Instead the state has pitted two groups against one another who once worked side by side." I don't think it's any coincidence that "failure" and "Lester Spell" meet again. They're very close acquaintances.

millhouse

Jun 21 2006

I have to say, I'm disappointed with this article. It, and others like it, focus only on the politics surrounding the market, and completely miss the point of the new farmer's market. Which is, that the new market is designed to showcase local growers. Y'all, these are small farmers who have had the sh!t kicked out of them by mother nature over the last couple of years. They are growing some awesome produce, and selling it in the venue that is available to them. I don't know how or why Spell and team managed to so completely mis-handle the situation, but to *not* shop at the new market only punishes the growers who are trying to sell there. The facility is already built, and all of this complaining about won't change that fact. I shop at the original farmer's market, because *some* of their produce is good. I shop at Belhaven, because Joseph sells great produce. And I shop at the new market, because that's the place where I can now get tons of fresh, locally grown goodies. Yes, the downtown market was slow to take off, but it opened last year, then Katrina hit, then Rita, then winter, then in early spring there were "tornadic events" that destroyed a couple of people's greenhouses, etc. I was there last saturday morning, and there were at least a dozen vendors with fresh produce, plus a couple of craftspeople, and the ever fabulous Blackwater Farms (local, pastured, chemical free meat and eggs). Shop local, even if it means hitting all 3 markets.

kate

Jun 22 2006

Kate, I assume you saw the article we did a couple weeks back that did focus more on that. Every article can't serve every purpose. A lot of folks are upset about this; they should get their say, too.

DonnaLadd

Jun 22 2006

I've been to both farmers market. I like the old one the best. Just drive up, buy some stuff, and drive back into the sunset like the good old days. Plenty parking is the way to go.

Ray Carter

Jun 22 2006

Only tip of Ice burg. Lester Spell has run hard line against every small business he touches. Has had the Bureau of Plant Industry a Department of the Department of Agriculture of Agriculture and Commerce be his thugs against Independent Pest Control Operators in the State. The Bureau of Plant Industry preys on Independent Pest Control Operators, Caters to National Companies and applies regulations as tools to shut operators up. The Bureau of Plant Industry has allowed Pearl River Water Supply District and its contractor ADAPCO Vector Disease Control Inc. (VDCI) to violate the Safe Water Quality Act, FIFRA and State Law over three hundred times that I can document. I am James H. Wilson I own and operate Wilson's Termite and Environmental Services in Brandon, Ms. During our research into bidding on the Mosquito Control for the District we found these violations. Reported the acts to The Department of Agriculture who promptly covered them up. 1. Multiple applications of Permanone 30-30 within 100 ft of water supply a violation of Safe Water Quality Act, FIFRA and State Law. 2. VDCI operated Ridgeland office without a license or permit holder as required by State Law. 3. VDCI has not performed gravid test for West Nile Virus or any CDC Traping as agreed. PRVWSD (The Rez) is paying VDCI $180,000.00 for the Mosquito Contract and charging the 6000 residence of the district $6.50 per month each, over $468,000.00 for the service so there is plenty of money to spread around. Want to talk about fraud anyone. But who cares. It’s only a drop in the bucket compared to the 55 Million plus wasted on the Beef.

wilsonblu

Jun 27 2007

Believe me, there are those of us who want to champion small businesses. Since you have so much documentation, I sincerely hope some media will take you up on this and investigate.

ChrisCavanaugh

Jun 27 2007

BTW, I have parked and gone inside for just about my last visit to the new Farmer's Market. Almost nothing that I buy was available and all of my visits have been on Saturday mornings.

ChrisCavanaugh

Jun 27 2007