Our friend Wade Sirois, of Fuse Catering/Forage Foods reported a while ago that the Calgary Farmers’ Market was looking into becoming a for-profit corporation for when they move locations. Most sensible people concerned with local food issues would probably be opposed. I would highly recommend checking out his blog, as he has provided several updates on the development of the market.
In a recent article in Fast Forward by Lindsey Wallis, market President Rodney Bradshaw dispelled the rumor of corporatization. Bradshaw maintains that the mere thought of incorporation was motivated by demands from the owner of the new location, who refused to grant a lease as long as the market remained a non-profit.
Along with voting to fire the general manager, on May 30 the Calgary Farmers’ Market board also rejected a proposal to become a for-profit corporation and possibly lose its farmers’ market status. The corporate idea was initiated when the landlord of the Blackfoot location refused to rent the space to a non-profit co-operative.
“(The board) took a look at the proposals we had and decided that a co-operative with one member, one vote suited us better as an organization,” Bradshaw says.
The corporation condition “went away” after the market “cleared hurdles” during lease negotiations, says Bradshaw. “As a non-profit co-operative, it allows us to do certain things and qualify as an approved farmers’ market,” he adds.
When asked if the board fired general manager Darrell Komick because he was pushing for the market to gain corporate status, Bradshaw replied, “It was an internal decision and we’ll just have to leave it as that.”
Though I’ve been critical of the Calgary Farmers’ Market on occasion, I am glad that these folks have made this decision. While the market may represent some of the less accessible and sustainable aspects of the local food movement, it still represents a good sized chunk of local food buying in Calgary. I suppose we need upscale still, for better or for worse. But I still really hate pulling into a parking lot full of SUVs and dodging monster-sized strollers down the aisle. And the styrofoam! Dear Lord the styrofoam!
Having said that, I’m going to reiterate the need to think out of the box on this. The Calgary Farmers’ Market is a huge operation. Plenty of people who shop there couldn’t give a rat’s ass if the food was local, as long as it’s high in quality or different. Would these people be deterred by incorporation? These two factors will ensure the constant danger of the market flirting with incorporation or pushing profit to the limit.
What we do need are new and different solutions to this problem. Where the CFM sits as the “big box” store (no offense to any of the good, small producers there doing good things) we may have to look at a decentralized approach. Imagine if there was a market in walking distance or a short transit trip from where you live with a few vendors supplying everything you need. You don’t have to drive, push past anyone to get what you want and you don’t have to pay trickle-down fees for a lease on a giant downtown building. Maybe we need to apply the same principles–making a sustainable, self-sufficient local economy–to farmers’ markets themselves.
Photo of the Calgary Farmers’ Market floor courtesy “Kempton” with a CC license.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I have to admit that going corporate was the straw that broke the back on the CFM for me. The fact that this is not going to happen now is great, but it doesn’t address the sustainability of the CFM or farmers markets in Calgary for that matter. The larger issue here is how are we going to feed ourselves going into a future of diminishing oil, environmental and health issues, and food insecurity? I’ve tried to use the incorporation issue as a catalyst for getting the discussion going and it has started to work. Unfortunately, like all political issues, it is going to take a huge amount of foresite and leadership to get the necessary changes. It is going to take cooperation between farmers, government, and the public to realize a future of secure good, clean and fair food.
Good morning. I came across your site while searching calgary markets. I strongly agree with the thought of decentralized local food/produce markets. This is exactly what we are working on in order to provide each community with its own version of a local market. We are calling it MicroMART Galleries. Micro for small, community. MART: underline the ART, to include artisans and Galleries to give it an upscale feel. Also, the program includes the worlds first Loyalty + Referrals = Rewards program for local businesses. Encouraging and rewarding the general public for actively supporting local businesses in the communities in which they live. Again, this is a first. Call to learn more if you like. Cheers, Dwight @ 403 265 1644. Chapter I, Calgary, Alberta.