Protect Local Food & Farmers
Donation protected
The seven local food producers who are fighting their expulsion from the Peterborough Saturday Farmers’ Market urgently need your help.
The Threat:
The Peterborough & District Farmers Market Association (PDFMA), the Not-for-Profit Corporation that governs the Saturday Farmers' Market, issued a resolution to evict seven local food farmers and producers from the Market. The vendors under threat are:
· McLean Berry Farm
· Circle Organic
· OtonaBEE Apiary
· Gaelic Garlic
· Chef Marshall
· Necessitea Elixer
· Finest Gourmet Fudge
The Board of the Market scheduled a special members meeting on January 8th to vote on the motion to remove these seven vendors, citing undefined complaints from other market vendors.
The reasons given for the eviction were unfounded; and the handling of this resolution was illegal. The Board did not submit specific accusations, nor reveal the names of the accusers.
The Response:
The vendors have said they don’t want this fight, but they have no choice except to defend their right to remain at the Market through costly legal action, for which they need financial support. These vendors work hard all year to bring high quality local food to our Market and these threats have left them fearful and physically exhausted.
How YOU Can Help:
With your help, we need to stop the illegal actions of the Board and protect local farmers.
This fight is bigger than the rights of these seven vendors. This is a fight for our community’s right to access and support local food producers and farmers. By supporting this fund, you are exercising your right to demand a fair and transparent farmers’ market that maintains local livelihoods.
We (the seven vendors) have been overwhelmed and deeply moved by the community support we have already seen, from the thousands of signatures on our petition, to the hundreds who came out for our rally on December 29th. We greatly appreciate any donations that our customers and supporters can provide.
Please share this funding campaign widely on your Facebook pages, Twitter feeds, and by word-of-mouth to help us reach our goal of $63,000. Any funds raised that are not needed for legal costs will be donated to organizations within the community that support local farmers and local food.
The Threat:
The Peterborough & District Farmers Market Association (PDFMA), the Not-for-Profit Corporation that governs the Saturday Farmers' Market, issued a resolution to evict seven local food farmers and producers from the Market. The vendors under threat are:
· McLean Berry Farm
· Circle Organic
· OtonaBEE Apiary
· Gaelic Garlic
· Chef Marshall
· Necessitea Elixer
· Finest Gourmet Fudge
The Board of the Market scheduled a special members meeting on January 8th to vote on the motion to remove these seven vendors, citing undefined complaints from other market vendors.
The reasons given for the eviction were unfounded; and the handling of this resolution was illegal. The Board did not submit specific accusations, nor reveal the names of the accusers.
The Response:
The vendors have said they don’t want this fight, but they have no choice except to defend their right to remain at the Market through costly legal action, for which they need financial support. These vendors work hard all year to bring high quality local food to our Market and these threats have left them fearful and physically exhausted.
How YOU Can Help:
With your help, we need to stop the illegal actions of the Board and protect local farmers.
This fight is bigger than the rights of these seven vendors. This is a fight for our community’s right to access and support local food producers and farmers. By supporting this fund, you are exercising your right to demand a fair and transparent farmers’ market that maintains local livelihoods.
We (the seven vendors) have been overwhelmed and deeply moved by the community support we have already seen, from the thousands of signatures on our petition, to the hundreds who came out for our rally on December 29th. We greatly appreciate any donations that our customers and supporters can provide.
Please share this funding campaign widely on your Facebook pages, Twitter feeds, and by word-of-mouth to help us reach our goal of $63,000. Any funds raised that are not needed for legal costs will be donated to organizations within the community that support local farmers and local food.
Organizer
Julie Fleming
Organizer
Cavan, ON
