Saturday, July 12, 2008

The Style Weekly Saga

Hello Friends of the 17th Street Farmers Market!

This is an update to the saga caused by a recent article published in Style Weekly. In the July 2nd issue, Deveron Timberlake published an article "Pie Eyed in South Side". Though the article was a wonderful marketing tool for a local venue, the article also served the 17th Street Farmers Market with a greater negative public view. It came with one simple line.

"Every Saturday morning, the little farmers' market that could kicks the teeth out of the farmers' market that seems to dry up a little more each season in Shockoe Bottom."

That was the only statement the 17th Street Farmers Market received. Think of how you would feel being an average reader looking to find alocal market venue. How would you address the concern?

Below is the email thread beginning with the message I sent to the editor regarding the article and neighborhood response.

If you feel as strongly about this issue, and how no market should rely on demeaning articles to better their own business, then make your thoughts known! We all offer the public a great local resource and should support each others growth. There is no better time tostart that teamwork than right now.

Thank you for your time and I look forward your responses.
Scott Sibley
Chairman
R.F.M.A.A.

------------------------------ORIGINAL EMAIL:Style Weekly:
In your current issue, Deveron Timberlake published a story regarding the growth of the Forest Hill Park farmers' market. The writers ability to create a scene for the reader is impressive and giving a spotlight to local vendors is a must to receive positive public response. Once readers see this article, they will surely want to visit the market, and even purchase a pie or two.

Though the story was enjoyable, the entry was a true "kick in theteeth" for the vendors, neighbors, businesses and associations tryingto make the 17th Street Farmers Market a success. For over a year, for example, the individuals which now form the Richmond Farmers Market Advancement Association, have worked to get positive publicity for themarket while pointing out the issues we face. Though we are not affiliated with the City, we pride ourselves on the oldest, most historic market in the state. Any time a negative article regardingthe 17th Street Market is published, it only furthers the negativeview the public has on this venue. We have many great vendors that arededicated to this market and would do anything to keep it alive. Further, we have just as many enthusiastic neighbors around this market who want to see it succeed. We also have the free parking, strollers and well mannered dogs which give this a community feeling. In short, publishing this article is directly attacking all ouractions to save the 17th Street market. Though we do know that Scott Bass is working on an article asking the important question on why this market is in the state it is in, we still need all the positiveinfluence the press can give.

With this said, we invite Deveron Timberlake to the 17th StreetFarmers Market to see all this venue has to offer. Maybe with a review as wonderful as was given to the Forest Hill market, we may be able toget more visitors. The more visitors we get the better this market will become, in turn giving you more to write about. Its a full circle that starts with a little positive press.
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me.
Regards,
Scott Sibley,
Chairman
Richmond F.M.A.A.

---------------------------------------Message from Deveron Timberlake:
Dear Scott,
Thanks for your recent message to us at Style. I'm sorry you are disappointed in my recent column. Of course I'm not the only one with criticisms of the 17th street market -- many local blogs and former market customers and growers are full of them, sadly, and I know this is not news to anyone who follows the situation.

However, I do not mean to imply criticism of the vendors themselves,many of whom make great sacrifices to do their work and to find a willing market for their wares. I respect their efforts and enjoy the opportunity to highlight growers and artisans as a regular part of ournews coverage.

I have visited the 17th St. market numerous times over the past several years, in addition to farmers' markets in Charlottesville,Savannah, Charleston, New York, Seattle, Goochland, and other countries, and truly appreciate the variety of produce and merchandise that is offered and the value that these markets bring to their communities. It is exciting to see a movement take hold. Shoppers whoare fortunate enough to travel will also draw comparisons, and hope for similarly successful and vigorous markets in their home towns.

That said, I stand by my view, however painful, that the 17th St.market needs and deserves immediate attention to improve its appeal to consumers, particularly in an ever more competitive marketplace. Many downtown residents who could easily shop there have chosen instead to go south of the James, out to Brookview Farm, or even to Cville, and that indicates greater concerns, which I trust you and your committe eare working to address.

Feel free to let me know about changes that are taking place. I'm always glad to hear about, observe and report on developments in this area and will look forward to hearing details as you work toward an improved market in Shockoe.
Sincerely,
Deveron Timberlake
food & drink editor
Style Weekly
1313 E. Main St.Richmond, VA 23219
804.358.0825 ext.356

---------------------------------RESPONSE REGARDING THIS REVIEW:
Hello Deveron.
I respect your views on the 17th Street Market, however I am confident you failed to understand the issue at hand and cause for my initial contact. You do not have to belittle a market that has nothing to do with the story you are addressing. Your story was about the growth of a market and you addressed that very well. Your views were stressed on how great that market is and you should have stuck with it. Instead,with one line used as the entry you created a negative public view of a market you didn't even talk about.

This negative press is one of the things we are fighting against. If you do not see the cause for our concern then you may simply wish to write articles and not include your personal opinions. I'm truly sorry you do not see the hurt this article caused to my organization, the17th Street Farmers' Market and the businesses which work to protect the venue.

Thank you for your time.
Scott Sibley
Chairman
R.F.M.A.A.

5 comments:

Paul Hammond said...

I just put a similarly snarky (my specialty) remark on the Richmond Food Collective site, but I meant it in love. The sad state of the market is one more badge of shame for Richmond, especially considering its long and rich history. A part time vendor at the market told me about an idea that was being discussed to convert the market to an indoor/outdoor all weather market, which I thought was a great idea. Summer weather can be miserable and Winter, well can be wintry. Richmond is full of great ideas that have failed, but I sincerely hope something constructive can be done to rejuvenate the market. God knows our shopping alternatives are limited in this part of town.

Good luck

Scott Sibley said...

Am I the only one that actually sees how negative remarks are NOT going to get the public to visit? If you want to see growth, MAKE IT HAPPEN! Stop talking about all the bad things, focus on the good ones and make it inviting. All I ask is for people to think about what they are saying. Its a true disservice to the market to comment on the market in such a negative manner. Protect those who want to protect it rather than be a pebble in their shoe.

Jeff E. said...

Scott, I understand your frustration but I feel you're expending far too much energy lashing back over one line of criticism and far too little asking what is is your group can do to improve the market. Even with a successful market in Forest Hill Park, there is no reason one can't succeed at 17th Street. Listen to your critics, don't try to silence them. Even with proper changes made it may take a while to build patronage again but with the help of the blogosphere, word will spread quickly. One small thing I would suggest is to place your vendors more carefully. The one I see at the prominent corner of 17th and Main usually seems to be carrying produce you could buy at a supermarket and is not a local farm. If they are they need to let people know that. Folks are all about buying local these days. Best of luck to you!

john m said...

" The one I see at the prominent corner of 17th and Main usually seems to be carrying produce you could buy at a supermarket and is not a local farm."

This really is a big issue.

Scott Sibley said...

The RFMAA, other vendors and other markets are all concerned with this practice. We all feel it is a form of false advertising for the venue, and all a farmers market stands for. What is more alarming is the only group that seems to overlook this practice is the very group that runs the market. Regarding any vendor buying wholesale, there are several things to keep in mind. I will bring these to the public once I get a response from the City, or from Linette Bond, the vendor coordinator.