Farmers and vendors of food and crafts who participated in the litigation against the market's current management were disappointed that artisans will be prevented from voting in the upcoming election. Fees paid by craft vendors and food merchants account for nearly half of the association's revenue, Carney said. I think the artisans are a wonderful draw. The more we include all three categories the better. Gonce and others, however, are still pleased at the prospect that farmers will get a chance to vote for directors, apparently for the first time ever.
Some farmers have a less favorable view of the litigation, however.
Gonce's decision to intervene in the suit on the side of the artisans is one of the reasons why some one-time supporters of the committee have since parted company with the group. My feeling is that the artisans are welcome but the market should be run by farmers and consumers. Bagley noted that the artisans and food vendors who show up at some point during the course of the year actually outnumber the farmers, though not on any given day, which could contribute to a potentially dangerous trend. A total of about 18 candidates will stand for election for the nine seats on the board. The farmers nominated by supporters of the Committee to Save Our Market are Gonce, Rachel Helm, John Frieze, Dennis Durks, Jim Eldon, Barbara Shumskey and Peter Martinelli.