The County Commissioners have decided to dissolve the present volunteer Farmers’ Market Board of Directors and replace them with County Commission members and 3 people from the farm community. They will meet in the large courtroom on Monday, July 6 at 6:00. You should be there to voice your opinion.

In 2011, a group of 16 community-minded residents received an initial grant of $300 from the Union County Community Foundation to plan the first ever Farmers’ Market in Union County. Many Union County residents and organizations, including the Chamber of Commerce, the Union County Extension office, and Rural Development, saw the benefit of Farmers Markets to the community, local agriculture, and small businesses.

The first Board of Directors was made up of farmers. But farmers farm – that’s what they do. It is hard, demanding, and time-consuming work. Sitting on a Board may seem non-productive if you have a field to plow or hay to get in. And those farmers slowly dropped off the Board. Members of this Board have changed a lot over time. A rotating group of Union County volunteers who have been willing to put in the time and use their expertise has been leading this group for the past 15 years, and we have seen exponential growth.

Until now, the Farmers’ Market has always had the support of the County Commission and Mayor. Union County initiated the development of Heritage Park for the benefit of the Farmers’ Market. With the consent and approval of the County Commission and the Mayor, the Farmers Market now includes both a Commercial and a Teaching Kitchen (building owned by the county, equipment owned by the present Farmers Market Board). Since 2011, the many citizens who started with an idea of a local Market have developed it over the years to what it is today. They have contributed hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours organizing, planning, scheduling, and working to make this a success. Over time, they have cumulatively donated tens of thousands of dollars of their own personal funding. No one has ever taken a salary. Their belief in supporting our farmers and community is what motivates them.

No tax dollars go to the Farmers’ Market. None. So how has the market been funded? Grants written by Rick Riddle, Donna Riddle, Patrick Hurley and Shannon DeWitt. Grant writers generally earn $40-$150/hour and can take weeks to months to write and submit. These folks did the research, spent the time, wrote the grants - all for the satisfaction of serving their community. Our community. They have brought over 3 million dollars in Federal and State grants into Union County. No one on the County Commission has done that.

It is important to note that of all 50 states in the US, Tennessee is #3 in the loss of farmland. Tennessee is losing farmland fast – roughly 200 acres every day. Union County alone has lost about 3200 acres of farmland just since 2015. Developers are buying it up and turning it into subdivisions. We need to be more successful in supporting our farmers.

Why does the County Commission want to take over a successful non-profit enterprise? Was the present Board doing something incorrectly? If so, was that discussed? Is the plan to change how the market is operated? How do they plan on paying a Market Manager? Will they charge higher vendor fees, or will we pay through our taxes? Is there some reason they have not been involved at a grassroots level as volunteers? As a wise person once said, “If it ain’t broke…”

Maybe we will learn that at their meeting on July 6 at 6:00.