Preserving the Harvest

Dee Logan of AZ Community Farmers Markets, (check the website to see which of the markets she runs) has been unfairly discriminating against Pinnacle Farms for many years.

It is Dee Logan's position that Pinnacle Farms has grown very little if any produce from our own land and therefore should be removed from market. Pinnacle Farms has been growing on a level that I am very proud of for the majority of 10 plus years and have NEVER had the pleasure of a visit from market management even after years of threats that we will be removed from market.

In order to fairly justify the removal of a grower from market, a simple farm visit should preface any action against a vendor. Even a stand visit would be a step in the right direction.

Dee Logan has allowed less scrupulous growers to repackage Costco produce and other nefarious sources like the 99 cent store and has turned a blind eye to the most egregious offenses. These growers invariably state that it was all grown in their backyard, or in a Tempe greenhouse etc. See the photos below to see what was found in the 100% AZ Grown Market this weekend.

The discrimination is against me personally and originates in the dissolution of the market manager's farm. The market manager of Roadrunner park is a direct competitor to Pinnacle Farms and due to Dee Logan's conspicuous absence from RR for years, is the primary reason for the complaint in this issue. Sadly, it is a serious conflict of interest to allow the market manager to decide who goes and who stays when they themselves purchase the majority of their produce from other sources like Willcox, Eurofresh and Crooked Sky. I attest that I grow far more on my worst day than Big Happy Farms did at their best and had Ms. Logan bothered to check her facts, she would have discovered this. In 10 years of growing, only 1 vendor has ever been asked to leave, while other (male) vendors continue to flaunt the rules and remain unmentioned by market management.

If market management wishes to clean up the market, the first step is to stop randomly enforcing the rules, willy nilly proclamations as to who grows what, and define terms to allow for the valuable vendors who grow, or whose product originates out of state, but are a great addition to market such as coffee, garlic, salmon, and even apple cider. Currently, the last market agreement reads all products will be 100% AZ Grown and at least 50 % from your own farm. Please review the photos taken on September 3, 2011 to decide for yourself if that is equally enforced.

If the market management desires, they can have a happy, healthy environment based on fair and equal treatment. The problem within the market is caused by years of such ridiculous enforcement of rules that change for each vendor as market management decides that day. For many years I have stated that farmer's markets are a really difficult row to hoe, because you must be all things at once, grower, marketer, and then all the other small business owner tasks like bookkeeper and storekeeper. Invariably small farmers try the life for a few years then eventually find out that the seasonal model simply isn't worth the effort. Those who have been successful and continue for years are those who diversify and offer other products to insulate their farm from the perils of farming itself, weather, bugs, labor, high land costs etc.

Pinnacle Farms is very proud of our business model and strive to offer the best produce we can grow in AZ and also USDA Organic products that offer the consumer a choice and keep AZ dollars close to home. We invest those dollars directly in our family, our employees families, our farm and our taxes. It is an extremely well received model as judged by my success in the market which also brings dollars to other vendors, because a farmers market is made up of many farmers, not just one.

If you feel this is only fair and Pinnacle Farms should be supported and not unfairly discriminated against, please be sure to write to deniselogan@yahoo.com and be sure to tell her you do not agree with discrimination in any form. Feel free to suggest a way to create a happy healthy environment that supports AZ agriculture and farms with the diversity that is so important to growers in a harsh climate.

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The real problem at Roadrunner Park

The real problem at Roadrunner Park