We've quadrupled in size and income, because of our effectiveness in running the market,' manager Pompea Smith asserts. We've hit a brick wall,'' a source in city government laments. Despite the creation of an advisory board and some other minor concessions, the market management and dissident farmers have not come to terms. And, after a year of attempting to mediate the dispute, a Los Angeles City Councilwoman appears to be quietly withdrawing from the squabble.
Accounts differ on the exact nature of the dispute.
For the Hollywood market's farmers, however, the rub is a fee hike from 5 percent to 6.5 percent of sales proceeds. A number of participating farmers are also disappointed that Hollywood management has apparently disregarded the results of a farmer survey on whether or not to join the Southland Farmers Market Association. It's a very democratic approach, within the limits of a privately owned market. About a year ago, market management held a survey of its vendors as to whether the latter favored joining the Southland group. Joining Southland would have entailed an additional 1-percent fee increase to the vendors.