Market?s rules are fair to everyone

Editor:

The Hodag Farmers' Market has ended its season for the year. I would like to thank the city of Rhinelander as well as the entire community for its continued support.

I must address a previous Viewpoint letter (Star Journal, Oct. 16). The letter missed several points about a conversation I had with the author, and I was grossly misquoted.

The farmers' market has been running from mid-June to mid-October for 16 years. The market has 33 spaces for vendors. A few of the vendors have double stalls. The bulk of them sell fresh produce throughout the summer. Four vendors sell protein based items: chicken, elk, Angus meat, eggs and cheese. These vendors must have state licensing in order to sell at the market. Vendors also sell some canned goods approved by the state, house plants, outdoor plants, honey and maple syrup.

Only three vendors sell mostly craft items. Crafts must be approved by a committee before the market begins it seasonal run. The craft committee looks for items from various categories such as; natural items harvested from the vendor's property (such as the birch bark items), traditional skills (which includes soap and woven items) and uniqueness (recycled crayons). Craft exemptions are given to vendors who have crafts that constitute less than 25 percent of their total booth product. Needless to say, the Hodag Farmers' Market is not considered a craft market.

The letter writer failed to mention that she was told, by me, that she could bring down her house plants, and I suggested she put up a sign about the hamsters and cages. As for small animals: rule #5 of Market Policies states "Permitted animals are poultry, rabbits and hoofed animals under 40 pounds." The market also has a "no resale" policy, so she would not be able to sell cages.

The only exception to the rule is with the spring Critter Fest/Swap Meet, where as any animal is allowed (equines must have current papers on coggins and chickens must have papers on their health). Flea market items are also allowed during the one day sale.

The writer is correct in stating that there should be rules that everyone must follow.

Cassie Shefchik,

Rhinelander