Farmers markets rules ?

[John Headstrong]

Hi all.

I need some advice here.

My wife is involved in the local food coop and the small network of coops in west lothian, the network's aim is to provide local fresh veg to towns in west lothian. The whole thing is great, many towns you could not get fresh veg now can, and farmers are happy because they get a good price and get to feed local people.

Now, the problem is the network has now been told by the council that they can not attend the farmers markets anymore because they where selling food cheaper than someone else. this was after things had been havested especially for the market by the local farmers that supply the network.

so, my questions are.

How are prices fixed at farmers markets ?
How would you deal with this situation ?
what are the rules for being banned from trading at a farmers market ?

[Des]

Hmm...

Sounds like it might be worth talking to the council directly. they're the ones with the rules and so they're the ones with whom you'll stand the best chance of working out a solution. If it's purely a question of being more competitive than another trader, then I don't see how that can lead to your being banned. That smacks to me of protectionism and certainly goes against the principles of a free market, which ought to be reasonably important.

If the competition charge significantly higher prices than you then it's up to them to make clear their reasons, whether it's shipping costs, a larger profit margin or a more "prepared" or "superior" product.*.

It could be that a simple face-to-face meeting with the council representative could clear things up; there may be a misunderstanding or simply some missing paperwork. If they really are banning you from the market because your prices are cheaper than another trader, then I'd probably ask for that in writing because I'm pretty sure you'd have a case against them (although I couldn't say what its basis would be. It just feels like the kind of thing they wouldn't want to write down for liability reasons, if that makes sense... Anti-competitive practice, I'd guess. Unless that's an americanism.)

Short version: Talk firmly (but nicely) to the council, I would.

* I'm not saying their product is superior, mind. Just that they'd have to claim that to justify charging more. And the customer has the right to weigh up their offering against yours and choose what they believe to be the best value for money...

[Shirley]

Not sure - but will be watching this thread with great interest.

Is there anyway you could run a box scheme with a collection point somewhere close to where the markets are held?

http://www.scottishfarmersmarkets.co.uk/

http://www.farma.org.uk/

Couple of links that might help.

[Silver Ether]

Well I think the council are cheeky beggers ... I would have thought it was against the law to "price fix" even though it does go on, surley its up to the customers that use the farmers markets to choose what they want to buy.
After all is Asda going to be closed down because they are cheaper than Marks and Spencers???

Its sounds to me like someone knows someone in charge and they dont like the competion so have complained to teh said someone ... just me being cynical

[ina]

I was just going to post the same as Silver Ether - no need to repeat that... A bit of price fixing going on here, me thinks, and that's against the law last time I looked!

[Cheezy]

I don't know if any one can confirm this , but I heard from one of my local shop keepers, that to attend a farmers market, you only need to be one step away from the original provider. I.e it is perfectly OK for a large whole seller to turn up to a farmers market and sell his produce so long as he bought it direct from a farmer.
Apparently this occurs an awful lot.

The conversation arose because he was wanting to stock a local farms "home made" deserts, which they sold at the local market along with their chickens etc. He was told that they didn't have any available at the moment as they were still waiting for a delivery!!!!

[ina]

I think that happens a lot... Now I wouldn't think that so bad if they were made on another farm, and the two farms kind of exchanged produce - each selling some of the other farm's stuff, to extend their range.

I'm sure there are certain rules for farmers' markets, but they may well vary from county to county.

[Stonehead]

Get a bit of internal council warfare going - complain to Trading Standards about price fixing. And then go public in the local paper.

[Cheezy]

I think that happens a lot... Now I wouldn't think that so bad if they were made on another farm, and the two farms kind of exchanged produce - each selling some of the other farm's stuff, to extend their range.

I'm sure there are certain rules for farmers' markets, but they may well vary from county to county.

The thing is they are branded with this particular farms name saying they are home made at the farm.

And yet they are actually made somewhere else. Thats naughty in my book.

[ina]

That's wrong, I agree.

[Thurston Garden]

John - I don't think it's only West Lothian! 2 years ago we enquired about attending Haddington Farmers Market (East Lothian) selling veg. We were told we could not have a stall as there was already someone selling veg! Apparently they only allowed one stall per product. Not exactly good for competition either!

(That was 2 years ago mind, so things may have changed).

[Silver Ether]

John - I don't think it's only West Lothian! 2 years ago we enquired about attending Haddington Farmers Market (East Lothian) selling veg. We were told we could not have a stall as there was already someone selling veg! Apparently they only allowed one stall per product. Not exactly good for competition either!

(That was 2 years ago mind, so things may have changed).

Can one stall selling veg cater for all the folks and sell everything? what if one is organic and another not... I find it all very weired ... Have you thought about putting a stall up outside your house ... Yard Sale Idea... and selling direct to locals ..

[ina]

It's certainly different in Angus and Aberdeenshire - there are mostly several stalls selling veg, and I tend to go from one to the next comparing what they have...