Well, here we go again. Another day another article about Calgary Farmers Market in Fast Forward Weekly. I haven’t seen it yet, but I was interviewed for it so I’m guessing I’ll be getting angry stares again on Friday when I’m doing my weekly shopping. I could have said ‘no comment’ but then those who would like to see me just shut up and mind my own business, those same people who approve of censorship, would have their way. I don’t think the whole story will ever be told about CFM and it has been fascinating to witness the events of the last year.

Since I’ve been writing about the CFM for a while I thought I would try and explain where I’m coming from. The CFM houses the farmers that my businesses spend a majority of our food dollars with. It is these same farmers that feed my family too. I have developed strong relationships with them and they are the ones I have been talking with in trying to figure the best way for consumers (co-producers) to access their farmers and visa versa. They are the ones that have been telling me about the issues at CFM and about their experiences there. They are the ones who now need to decide if the new CFM is worth their substantial investment and if it is still worth being a part of. If they really want to be stuck with the in fighting, back stabbing, mismanagement, politics, and general challenges that come with 80 different business owners trying to make a living together.

I feel I need to reiterate that I feel the CFM has had to do the best it can with what it has got. They alienated Canada Lands with the publicity stunt they pulled last summer, tried to control the press, and then generally pushed away anyone else that might want to be a part of the solution. Add to that Calgary’s real lack of suitable spaces, a downturn in the economy, and a city that seems apathetic about farmers markets and it all adds up to where we are now. Like it or leave it there are some people that have done just about everything they can to make a future for CFM. The challenges they have faced are no one’s fault in particular, but all of our fault for not making access to local, good, clean, and fair food our responsibility. At all levels. Government, the farmers, the co-producers, corporate Calgary – we will not have a sustainable network of accessible farmers markets until we ask for them. Until we make them happen together.

I want to live in a city where this is a priority and part of me thinks we’ll get there someday and the other part of me, the part that has seen the success and failure of CFM, thinks it may never happen. As someone deep in the local movement and who deals with farmers every day it’s just not right to be pessimistic. Every spring seeds are planted with the hope that with some care and attention and a little luck the land will return the favour with food that nourishes those who seek it. Not every year goes as planned and not every crop is as fruitful, but you always plant more seeds the next year. As long as there are people to bring in the harvest and people who support the effort by eating it. Yes, it is my business what happens to my farmers and I’m not the only one who cares about these issues. We just need to keep on planting more seeds.