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Controversy rocks Sonoma farmers market
Candi Edmondsonleft, sells Oak Hill Farm produce at farmer's market held at Sonoma Plaza in 2004.
PD FILE, 2004Published: Sunday, December 6, 2009 at 3:07 p.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, December 6, 2009 at 3:07 p.m.
The managers of Sonoma's farmers market soon may be shown the door by city leaders after more than 20 years of operating the weekly community event that features fresh produce, food, flowers and crafts.
The move stems from complaints from vendors or potential vendors who were denied spots in the Tuesday evening market at the town center Plaza area.
It also is spurring accusations that city leaders have ulterior motives for pushing for a possible change in leadership by next month.
The City Council is seeking proposals for new market managers who could replace the current Sonoma Valley Farmers Market nonprofit board. A decision is expected to be made next month, before the market season opens in April.
Hilda Swartz, who has managed the market for more than 20 years, said she suspects some kind of hidden agenda because none of the complaints were brought to her attention before the city moved for a change.
“How can we change if we don't know what the complaint is?” she said.
Jim Cahoon, president of the nonprofit group's board said he knows of eight complaints spread over the past five years.
“It seems to me, that is an extremely good record,” he said. “There are some parties within the City Council that stand to gain politically by these high-handed, heavy-handed methods and perhaps wresting control of the farmers market from the present management.”
The market is run by the private group, but rents city land in the Plaza. The city, while not having jurisdiction over the market operation, could deny its request to use the land. The group also runs a Friday night market on county land where its operations aren't under scrutiny.
City Manager Linda Kelly said her office had received complaints about which vendors were granted space in the Tuesday market and whether some were given unfair preference. Others complained that once a lineup is set, there is little rotation.
At community meetings since the issue arose this fall, after the market's end in October, some vendors have complained about its perceived secretive management choices involving where certain booths are placed and whether board members who have booths are being given preferential treatment.
After hearing complaints from vendors, board members of the city's events committee raised concerns about the market board's impartiality, its process for selecting vendors and whether there is an appeal process.
The board isn't a public entity, so isn't required to post an agenda or meeting times. But Cahoon said Swartz and board members are available and responsive to questions.
Jamie O'Brien, owner of Aztec Dahlias in Petaluma, said he has been told he can only bring two buckets of blooms because others — including board members — also sell flowers.
“Five or six of the board members are vendors themselves, which is very skewed,” O'Brien said. “If somebody comes along that is competing with the board members, they won't let them in.”
Cahoon countered that O'Brien was approved only to sell the flower tubers, not the blooms or plants.
“Too much competition means no one makes any money and we lose our vendors,” he said.
There are spaces for about 40 vendors, Swartz said, and about 100 vendors apply each season.
Swartz said they will continue to put on the Friday market and, if rejected for the Tuesday market, may seek another location within the city to stage their event.
“It is so visible and has become controversial,” City Manager Kelly said. “It is so important to the city, why not make it the best it can be?”
The deadline for applications is Dec. 21 and the city council is set to choose a market operator on Jan. 20.
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