I am a farmer who has chosen to stay in Sunset Valley and have also watched this situation play out over the last few months. Having been a bystander, I would ask you if you knew why those “few farmers” were disgruntled, and if it was possible that they were not alone but just the people putting voices to real issues. Many farmers had real concerns about quality of goods being sold, about losing our lease, and about the stability and health of the market. I don’t feel it’s necessary to fill in all the details, but I for one am very happy to have the SFC leading the continuation of the market in Sunset Valley. I have spoken with several of the SFC staff in the past few months and spoken to a lot of the farmers they work with. They are good people who promote and support the local food movement transparently. They also are steadfast to the most important guidelines we growers have; we must grow or produce all goods sold at the market. I also believe that there is a lot to be said about character here. I was not involved directly in all the drama that has ensued but in the last few weeks have not had a choice as it has sought me out. No one from the SFC has said a single bad thing about the other party involved and I have witnessed people really poking and reaching with no acknowledgement from the SFC staff. The high road is often the more difficult path and I commend the SFC for the job they have done in the past few weeks. I hope you don’t receive my words as an attack but as maybe a little insider trading… We, as farmers,  really just want to grow amazing food and get it to our community through markets and businesses that practice the same value of integrity we strive for daily. Also, please remember that for many of us Saturdays at the market is our “day off” because we work seven days a week. We don’t just work a farmers market and call it a day afterwards either we go home and unpack, wash everything from the market, prep beds by hand, hoe and weed, plant more, check water, fix pipes, feed animals, pay bills, write newsletters, buy supplies, fertilize, till, plan events for extra income, repurpose unsold goods, harvest for upcoming markets or orders, plan the coming week, try and decifer the weather, and take care of our families. Believe me we will stand up when we feel like we are being misled, misinformed, misrepresented, and generally not taken care of. We work hard for it! I genuinely believe that good will come from all of this and we look forward to seeing you and your family at the market! 

Thank you, Austin Food Journal, for having a sense of humor.

Dear Cory,
I would encourage you to not throw the baby out with the bath water. Why do YOU go to farmers’ markets? To buy fresh local food? Humanely raised meats? To get some really good locally made specialty food items? If these are your reasons for going to a farmers’ market, then let your passion about food guide you (and your proximity to the fulfillment of that passion), rather than “he said/she said” type exercises that really don’t let you enjoy your ultimate reason for being at farmers’ markets in the first place. Maybe go to all markets on Saturday, including Boggy Creek Farm, Austin Farmers’ Market – Downtown, SFC Farmers’ Market at Sunset Valley, and Barton Creek FM to see what best suits your culinary tastes. NOT ESTIMATES (as of 3/17): Staying at SV–21 farmers (4 more to come in one to two weeks); 19 food vendors; 4 artisans/crafters.