Greensboro parks & rec ratchets up enforcement at farmers market

Greensboro Farmers Curb Market vendor Mike Causey has been suspended from selling his produce at the market for a year by the city's parks and recreation department as punishment for bringing items to the market that he did not personally grow without permission. Many vendors and customers have been pleading with the city to maintain consistent enforcement for the past two years. (Background here and here.)

An Oct. 5 letter from parks and recreation employee Kathy Cates reads, in part:

"You have continued to bring and sell produce at the Market that was not approved on your 2008-09 Variance to Sell nor was it confirmed by the Grower's Certificate dated 9/22/09 (for example garlic, green beans, cabbage, okra, watermelons, corn, blueberries). This is the third time this calendar year that we have documented your bringing items to sell at the Market which you have not personally grown, and for which you have neither requested nor received a Variance prior to selling.

"Market management and Parks & Recreation Department management have given great consideration regarding your privilege to sell at this facility. Based on our several years of history and documentation of your continued violations and disregard of the Vendor Participation Guidelines, we are hereby suspending your privilege to sell at the Market for a period of one (1) year. Additionally, your permanent table reservations and all fees will be forfeited. The suspension period will be from Wednesday, October 7, 2009 through Tuesday, October 6, 2010."

On Sept. 23, market manager hand-delivered letters to the following vendors notifying them that he and NC Cooperative Extension agent Wick Wickliffe would be visiting their farms over the next several weeks:

1. Michael Faucette, Faucette Farms, Browns Summit;
2. Kenneth Rudd, Greensboro;
3. Pat & Brian Bush, Hand Dance Farm, Reidsville;
4. Mary, Rodney & Brian Gann, Gann Farms, McLeansville;
5. Carol & Glenn Pryor, Fifth Generation Farm, Ruffin; and
6. Curtis Smith, Smith Farms, Gibsonville.

One vendor on the list told me privately that they do not believe they are under suspicion, and expects no problems from the inspection. But others, including Brian Gann, who told YES! Weekly earlier this month that he expected to be forced out of the market as a result of the inspection, do not welcome the visits.