Patrick’s Rants

…at the Flagstaff Farmers’ Market.
I like Farmers’ markets mostly. They tend to be large open stores, open air type markets, friendly type places. “Tend to be” is the operative phrase. In the early 90s, the Farmers’ market was a small bustling store, nearly overflowing the space allotted to it with - from what I remember - wonderful produce. I used to buy all of my produce from the Farmers’ market and get what they didn’t stock at the regular grocery store. I don’t remember exactly when they moved to the old Penny’s Ace Hardware building, but I do remember talking to the owner/manager about how that would really open things up and increase business. They were pleased as was I.
Over the years they have expanded from occupying slightly larger than half of the building, sharing it first with Crystal Creek Sandwich Shop, then with Malone’s Bakery to being the only occupant. They now carry a much larger variety having expanded by about a third in floor space since they moved into the building. They now have 3 cash registers instead of 2. Their trucks can be seen making early morning deliveries to local restaurants. All of these things are good for them, good for the owners, and good for other local businesses.
I heard a rumor a while back. It could have been a year, perhaps more. The owner retired - sold his interest in the business. Now, this is only a rumor that I heard; I have not recently tried to run down the facts on this - this is after all an opinion piece. But in light of what I am about to write I tend to think the rumor may be true.
The last several times I have been to the Farmers’ market several things have caught my attention: although the post hours are until 7PM, the employees begin packing up aroung 5PM. The large bins of potatos, melons, peanuts and carrots that site outside the front doors are hauled into storage in the very back of the store and are noticably missing by 6PM. Similarly, inside produce is packed up and moved to the back of the store in the employees only section. I have had to ask employees to hand me an item they were attempting to put away so I could buy it.
Farmers’ Market has gone from a happily overcrowded bustling store bursting at the seems to an uninviting after work stop. The bustle of customers has been replaced with the bustle of employees trying to beat 7PM, whether it is because they have been told to, or because the (new) ownership has become an absent task master. Either way they are failing to keep service as one of the most important, and inviting, part of their business.