The Devolving North Shore Country Market
Another sad state of affairs in Sunset Beach is the devolution of the Saturday North Shore Country Market.
Most Saturdays there are only two vendors max out of approximately 30 each week that are actually selling fruits and vegetables. The rest is collection of jewelry, sarongs, art, surf photographs, Serial Protesters, baked goods that would be more appropriate in a store over in Haleiwa or at a Swap Meet. Often times the Taco Truck will set up shop there along with some kids who make some really bad burritos when they need new surf boards.
At one time, not to long ago there were more food vendors and some actual farmers. North Shore Cattle Company used to be there as well as Paradise Water Ice. Both are gone. Part of the blame goes to the Kapiolani College Farmers Market that is open on Saturday morning. If you want to sell a significant quantity of goods, you go where the buyers are. There are buyers in town.
The rest of the blame goes to those who run the market and of course the Sunset Beach people.
They are letting a failing entity continue despite the fact that it is a fraud and a joke. The Market should take a look at other dates or times that would enable vendors to be able to service this market and make money over in town. Other Islands have markets that rotate dates and times around their counties. It makes sense. Growers go to different places each week, so they can be in front of customers who want to buy from them.
I don't know what it is in the water over in Sunset that makes people incapable collectively of changing their behavior or acting in a rational manner. Ask the people who run the market, those who sell stuff there and the locals who show up each Saturday and you might hear:
Q - "Is this is a Farmers Market?"
A - "Right On Dude!"
In reality it is a collection of tourist oriented trinkets and tee shirts (Rodney being the exception) who's wares would be more suited for Waikiki or some of the other illegal businesses in Sunset. Please change it or fix it. If you can not do that, I say like the Emperor with no clothes that you can't have a Farmers Market without farm goods.
No Farmers = No market = Shut It Down
posted by Toegee-Jon Midpoint @ 1:33 PM
4 Comments:
At 5/09/2007 6:54 PM,
Anonymous said…
To: Toegee-Jon Midpoint
I have been managing and running the market since March 2005. So, I take responsibility for the current state the Market is in. But our market is not devolving and nothing about our market is a fraud or a joke. I have no time to paint a picture for you, just a few details.
The standards for acceptance at our market is that your product or whatever you sell must be handmade or grown in Hawaii by you or a family member or friend.
You poke fun at us when you write, “Is this is a Farmers Market?” Well, the real answer is no. It is no longer a farmer’s market and hasn't been for many years. Our market is a stepping-stone for farmers, crafters and others to develop their business ideas through education, training and practical experience.
The North Shore Cattle Company you mention is no longer at the market because they are successfully running their cattle business now. Farmers like David Delventhal who sold lettuce and salad dressing at the market and Bill of Paradise Water Ice became so successful that they no longer need the market to sell their products. They all have moved on. The only time we see David now is when he has extras. And there are others who have outgrown the market too.
We recently partnered with Empower Oahu to help any low-to-moderate income individuals who want to start their own business. The hands on business training course that is open to everyone and will cover everything they need to know to run a successful business. And it's free. Some of our vendors who take part in this program will eventually leave us when their business expands beyond the market. Our Market at Sunset Beach is a channel to help people in the community and all around Oahu to grow their business. That is, if they choose too.
Also, the NSCM sponsors after school gardening programs. We provide classes in organic gardening. We have received a grant to build an Organic Training Center where we will train growers in organic farming on the North Shore. The crops our trainees grow will be sold at the market in Sunset and to restaurants. Eventually, these farmers will leave the market to run their own successful farms and another group of newbie farmers will take their place and then move on to run their own farming business.
The market at Sunset is only a small part of what the North Shore Country Market does. Yet, the market at Sunset will play an important role in promoting agriculture on the North Shore once we have all of our programs in place. And the Market continues to be an avenue for developing micro-enterprises through education, training and practical experience. Through grants, our market will eventually grow into a multiversity.
Finally, we would not have a Market unless the citizenry supported it. And the people at Sunset Beach are some of the best people you will ever meet. And it’s not just the Sunset people. We attract people from all around the island and elsewhere.
At 5/10/2007 5:03 PM,
Toegee-Jon Midpoint said…
This comment was emailed to me and used with permission
Aloha Toegee-Jon,
Thank you for your passionate interest in our community!
As the founder of the market (march 1994), I sometimes feel the same way, about the market.
We started with about ten vendors , most of them had produce of some kind, we were very small
and all volunteer run.R
How do you think we could get more farmers or growers to come to sunset beach on a Saturday morning to sell thier product?
We need your help. We are an all volunteer co-op with a volunteer market manager.
We dont get fat salaries for what we do.
Since you seem to feel as strong about local commerce
as we do, perhaps you could help us to improve it somehow, we would welcome your assistance.
As a point of reference, we were never set up as a "farmers market" . We always included
vendors who made things locally, ei: cratfs and fine art work, jewelry, clothes etc. that is why
we originally called it a Country Market. All of the products are hand made in Hawaii. Local commerce!
How many stores in Haleiwa, carry items that are produced locally?
How about Waimea Valley gift shop, or shops at the Turtle Bay Resort?
Local commerce is what makes Hawai'i what it is. The more times a dollar is used in our community, the more people in our community benefit. Not some company or wholesaler from somewhere else.
As a non-profit entity we are also involved in providing educational activities Hawaii concerning organic agriculture please visit our website at www.northshorecountrymarket.com
Please look at "history links".
Thank you for your Mana'o and spirit, Sunset Beach needs more people like you.
Sincerely,
Bill Howes
Executive Director
The North Shore Country Market
At 8/05/2007 10:21 PM,
Anonymous said…
Hi, I am one of the "vendors". I have a walk-in clinic for shiatsu and lomilomi. Check it out - http://HumanRemodeling.com.
Yes, I totally agree with you that the market is not visited in huge numbers. I would disagree about the "tourist trinkets".
First, there are some farmers there. There were 5 the last Saturday. Nothing big, and it is what is in season, but a lot of it is organic, and it's tasty and not too expensive. Where else can you get organic tomatoes for $2 per bag?
There is also stuff at the market, like children's clothing, or baked goods, and recently food, that locals are happy to get. Where else can you get a very cute girl's dress for $12?
Also, there is quite a bit of very cool art at the market, and tourists are the ones happy to get those crafts and willing and able to pay for it. It's not expensive and it's not presented too fancy. Some could sell for BIG bucks in a store, with a credit card machine, nice packaging, shipping provided, etc. all those niceties. Most vendors at the market have another way of income and are not pressed to make it big. They could... Where else could you get a very fancy mirror all laid in mosaic, for only $30? The catch: you get just it, no shipping provided. In a store, that mirror is worth $100.
In my case, the market is a way for me to become known, so that people can connect the face to the add in the North Shore news. I am very good at what I do, and people need to know about my good work.
The market is a nice place to hang out, the other vendors are fun, and then interesting people may stop by.
So, all in all, it is work in progress, as vendors come and go, and it can be very different every weekend. The main thing is the local community supporting it, locals shopping for their food, gifts, etc.
At 8/08/2007 1:14 PM,
Toegee-Jon Midpoint said…
Aloha Milica.
I have been happy lately that it seems like there are more "farm" choices at the market since I first wrote this post.
When I wrote this, I was not happy that there was only 1 stall selling vegatables. Now there are more. Perhaps this is a good trend.
Just my opinion, I do not like the trinkits, tee shirts, etc. but that is just me.
Mahalo for your comment.
Post a Comment
<< Home