Spent some part of this weekend with a good friend of mine over in Garrard County. We did our usual of talking a lot over some tea as well as talking some more while one or the other of us helped out. It was my turn this time, as he was planting some stuff in the garden. He and his family have finally gotten it going toward selling for a couple of different farmers markets around the area. Some of things in regards they had to go through for that are kind of interesting though.
The first thing I will say is government getting in and regulating the farmers markets is doing just what one would expect. There are a bunch of silly regulations involved now that are really common sense for most everyone involved and a few other things that just really do not make sense at all when you think about it. Worse though of course, is now with the regulation come fees for compliance on all these different things. Even more so for my friend, who is not only planning to sell vegetables, but also pasture raised pork. Another way for the state and local governments to get their piece of your pie.
In addition to all the fees is of course just dealing with all the red tape and making sure you jump through all the hoops you have too. And to amplify it, with some of these being new, the local authorities really do not know what a person needs and often gives mis-information. Let one miss a proper paper though and I am sure someone will quickly know what the fine is for that mis-step.
Moving on, what I really wanted to get into on this post was the absurdity of some the rules and guidelines. Here is the most absurd one. If the farmer is going to give away samples of anything, then they must clense hands after each time they handle money before touching or distrubing samples to potential customers. It is a rule that makes sense in some ways, but then I think about the typical experience at a fast food establishment. Most always the same person that takes my money scoops out my fries and runs my soda. Technically they should not touch the food, but we know there is a chance they will and that it does happen. Worse is when the burger comes unwrapped and they wrap it back up. Should not the same rule apply to all food service personel and not just those who are set up selling at a local farmer’s market?