At various times in the past couple of decades, newspaper columnists and political leaders have talked about the negative things associated with the Dallas Farmers Market. The homeless problem is one argument some people have used to close it down. Bond money that has been approved for the market has not been spent. The market operates at a financial deficit. From a strictly business standpoint that financial deficit would be reason to seriously consider its future.
So, what if the market were to be bulldozed tomorrow and the land left for some future project? If it can be said ‘If you build it they will come’, can it also be said ‘If you demolish it, demand for it will evaporate?’
I visit Farmers Market at least once a week to buy items like spinach, roma tomatoes, oranges, zucchini, lemons, broccoli, grapes, blueberries and numerous other items. My wife and I also shop at Central Market, Whole Foods, Tom Thumb, and SunFlower grocery stores as well, so my food comes from a variety of sources.
What I appreciate about Dallas Farmers Market is the fact that a lot of the produce I buy is quite tasty, particularly during the spring and summer months. Some of the blueberries and mangos that they sell really make my mouth water. As I love grapes, I am always on the lookout for baskets of them that are on sale that I can purchase. My wife and I eat spinach salads every night, and all of our spinach and many of our tomatoes come from there.
I am also a guy who is very demanding as it relates to my tastes being catered to at any particular time. I want something when I want it. Therefore, I am very glad for the fact that I can purchase an abundant quantity of South American produce in the winter months, particularly the blueberries, mangoes and grapes that I enjoy in the summer, that don’t grow locally in the cooler months. The “Eat Local and in Season” people definitely would not like me for this reason.
I feel I often receive good value from shopping at the market. My wife and I prepared five different recipes for our 8th Annual Christmas Dinner Party serving 40 people, and my food bill for buying a rather significant quantity of produce was less than $50. I like the fact that some of the vendors will bargain with me, and so I will purchase even greater quantities of an item for a good price.
So what do I not like about this place and what gives me pause?
It is definitely not a very inviting place, particularly on cool wet rainy days when one still needs produce and must purchase it, but does not necessarily want to get in the elements when it is 43 degrees and raining on a mid-January afternoon. There is the perception as well when one drives into the area that it is on its dying breath, in that three of the four stalls are in various stages of disrepair, and only one of the four stalls really has activity occurring in it during the daytime. That is Shed 3, which contains produce dealers who are Dallas Farmers Market vendors, who resell refrigerated produce, including vegetables and fruits shipped from out of state. In the height of the local produce season, you can also find them reselling locally-grown produce that they obtain from farmers in the immediate area. I try to take advantage of that. Shed 1 which is supposed to contain the Farmers and the Produce Dealers, who have a Verified Local Farmer designation that assures you that their produce is from within 150 miles of Dallas, is very sparsely occupied in the winter. Shed 4 which bills itself as being for those customers who buy in bulk, sells produce wholesale, catering to restaurants and grocery stores. In the daytime in the middle of the week however, all one can really hear at that shed is the occasional car passing by on the road.
Some people do not like the fact that Dallas Farmers Market is in close proximity to several homeless shelters. Honestly that doesn’t bother me that much as I have worked downtown for years and have come to realize over time the perceptions versus the reality of homelessness. Still, I admit that the density of the homeless population in that area does not bode well for the market.
One can legitimately ask why they should bother going there when private farmers’ markets are becoming established on a part-time basis in other areas of the city and suburbs.
So is there a future for this market?
One has to bear in mind that the population of Central Dallas today is tens of thousands greater than it was 15 years ago. Granted, that increase in population is weighted more in the Uptown direction, but still there are many residents inhabiting the different towers within the freeway loop. One visit to the market on a typical Saturday or Sunday afternoon and it is clear that many of these new residents are frequenting the market. When economic activity improves, and there is renewed building not only in Downtown and Uptown, but in the immediate areas south of the Central Business District, there will be more residents and these people will need a place to purchase their fruits and vegetables. Some will undoubtedly go to Walmart, Urban Market, Albertsons and other places, but numerous others will gravitate to an environment where they can buy fresh produce and feel they are receiving good value for their money. With this future in mind, it would be good if the Dallas Farmers Market could put its bond money and fundraising dollars into the creation of an environment that is appealing to entice entrepreneurial ventures into the area, while also creating that special shopping experience that Dallasites so frequently find attractive.
The Dallas Farmers Market is open year round except for New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. It is open for retail sales from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily. The night wholesale market operates from 8:00 p.m. – 8:00 a.m. during peak season, generally May through November.
A Day Without the Dallas Farmers Market
Posted: January 31, 2012 by Chuck DeShazo
