Downtown Waterville Farmers' Market Association (DWFMA)

Meeting Minutes

General Business Meeting

April 26 2007

The meeting began at 6:00 p.m.

Discussion of Processed Products: The specific question of whether it was acceptable for Pudleduk Family Farm to bring herbal salves and teas to market when ingredients were bought in while Living Earth Farm has similar products to offer that were made with local and self-produced ingredients was in question. Elizabeth of Living Earth is comfortable with Pudleduk's products, so they will be allowed at market. The formal discussion of protocol for accepting or rejecting processed products depending on the nature of the process and the ingredients that are bought-in was tabled for later discussion.

An analogy to guide this discussion is the difference between apple cider pressing and baking bread: it may not be appropriate for cider made with bought-in apples to be brought to market, since the process of making cider is relatively simple and mechanized rather than skill-based. Bread, on the other hand, is a more involved process requiring more experience and skill; also producing the grains and other ingredients for baking requires energy, land, and time that would restrict the ability for bread to be produced on a large scale if it was all self-produced. On the other hand, cider is produced from apples, one ingredient that can have large yields on smaller acreage.

Other ideas that were discussed were:

Labeling: The ingredient list for products meant for human consumption (food and drink) should include the origin of ingredients. Other products such as salves should also be labeled with ingredients so that consumers are aware of potential allergens. It is not clear how far this idea will be taken: it would probably not be appropriate for a baker to list not only the ingredients but also where each ingredient was purchased, whereas if a foreign or tropical herb that cannot be grown in Maine is used in a product, it may be appropriate to list the origin of this ingredient, but maybe not the origin of every ingredient on the label.

State law specifies that products offered for sale at Farmers' Markets must be Maine-grown or produced. So, if a product is being made in Maine it does not necessarily need to be made of all Maine-grown ingredients. If a product is being made with Maine-grown or self-produced ingredients, it is up to the vendor to advertise this fact and promote themselves to the consumer.

Packaged items (honey as an example) that are bought-in for re-sale must be labeled with where the product was produced and packaged.

A unanimous vote accepted the Market Rules as revised in 2007.

By-law changes: Since there was no formal document to be voted upon, this item was tabled for a later meeting. It was suggested at the Steering Committee Meeting on Feb 1, 2007 to amend Article 7, Section 3: Liquidation of the Association. The original accepted document reads:

Section 3. In the event of liquidation or dissolution, all remaining funds in the Association’s treasury shall be distributed on a patronage

basis to members and non-members alike (regardless of chronology of such patronage) on the basis of their respective patronage satisfying all

debts and other obligations of the Association.

The amendment would read: Section 3. In the even of liquidation or dissolution, all remaining assets in the Association's treasury shall be donated to one or more non-profit association that works to benefit local agriculture or community food distribution. The specific beneficiary of the Market's assets will be determined by a general vote. The sum of the donation will be any monies remaining after all debts and other obligations of the Association are satisfied.

Buy-In Approval: A unanimous vote passed the motion: The regulation of Buy-Ins will be conducted in an informal manner: if a vendor wishes to buy-in a product that is also available from a vendor that produces the product themselves, the person buying-in the product may bring the product to market providing they receive the prior approval from the vendor that produces the product themselves. This stipulation will be added to Rule 8. Products: Section b.

The Rule as Amended reads: b. "Bought in" goods may not compete against other member-produced goods of the same kind and must be labeled to indicate where it was produced. The regulation of Buy-Ins will be conducted in an informal manner: if a vendor wishes to buy-in a product that is also available from a vendor that produces the product themselves, the person buying-in the product may bring the product to market providing they receive the prior approval from the vendor that produces the product themselves.

Note: I believe it is understood that buy-ins are allowed to compete against member produced goods of the same kind only if the product is considered to be a Market Void and while available is not meeting the sales capacity of the market. Should this addition be formally voted upon or should I just add it in since it is a fairly clear part of the discussion we had though not a part of the motion we passed?

Budget: A unanimous vote passed a motion for a committee to spend $5000 on promoting the Market. The committee includes Jack, Elizabeth, Lori, Fred, and Ernie. Ideas include more signs and tents to put up in businesses. The promotion plan should also include the Winter Market.

Spacing: It was decided that we would abide by the spacing plan that is written in the Rules. Additionally, the plan for spacing is that vendors will return to the same space every market, and that space will be determined when they begin coming to market. The vendors that are there on Opening Day will take a space in a sensible formation, and each week vendors will join the formation so that it grows in a double line. A map will be generated on Opening Day and posted online, and will be updated every time there is an additional space assigned. Hanne will manage setup and ensure that vendors coming to market for the first time take a new space and not one that is already occupied. Please check the online map before you come to market for the first time--this will give you a better idea of where your space will be. If a member cannot come to market they will contact Hanne and she will make sure that the space is filled in to keep the market free from gaps. It is estimated that there will be 12 members present on Opening Day.

Food Stamps: The investigation into the potential for food stamps shows that it is a management nightmare to operate an EBT machine at a farmers' market. The group as a whole would have to share access to the machine, and a member would have to manage the machine all afternoon for the entire group. The EBT machine costs around $800-1000. Mark Rollins of the Heald Farm will report on how well the Brewer Farmers' Market is able to use EBT and the system of management they have for it. It is still a possibility for the DWFMA, but would take a lot of effort and is not quite yet an option.

Farm Visits: Sarah, Clayton, Lori, Fred, Michelle, and Becky or Trish of Pudleduk volunteered to conduct Farm Visits. Hanne will be the coordinator.

New Applicant: Good Earth Farm was unanimously rejected.

Respectfully submitted by

Courtney Page

Secretary