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Just a heads up to Owen Sound Farmers' Market Vendors and Customers. We will have some visitors to Market at 11 tomorrow who would like to change how you view and act in the world. Currently the Market does not allow other groups to do this (religions) but if one couches it in protest or better yet as an artistic protest activity one can in essence come to a farmer's or producer's place of work and potentially disrupt the commerce activity that is so crucial for small and moderate agricultural producers to be viable.

Despite the organizers somewhat cryptic, repeated annunciations that,

"I feel the need to express to you that I have no intention of hurting anyones business, I have no intention of hurting anyone period"

or,

"We aren't trying to hurt anyone or make anyone feel guilty about their livelihoods, we want to see a sustainable and peaceful future especially in our beautiful community here in Grey Bruce. ".

Protests are about making one feel uncomfortable, are about changing ones pattern of behaviour and in this case it is specifically about about making one "feel guilty" about consuming and being involved in the consumption of animals.

It is a Farmers' Market. There are meat vendors. There are small local meat vendors. Every dollar these people make is hard earned. The hypocrisy of the above statements in regards to the stated goals of the protest organization I find somewhat exasperating.

The above is simply a rant from a manager who is currently floating somewhere in northern Georgian Bay. A manager who tried to open a dialogue with the group but hears about the event via others. A manager who has witnessed vendors who are now going into their third and most disruptive year of construction in and around the Market. A manager who for over two decades has watched, worked with, and tried to assist some of the hardest working people he has met. People who despite the seemingly endless hurdles, continue to make a go of being local agricultural producers. A manager who is frustrated.

To stand, masked, challenging these people's efforts I find offensive. And that is okay. Because it is Canada. We are allowed to have differences of opinions and more importantly we can voice those differences.

I ask the vendors to be repectful.

To the customers, please do not feel uncomfortable. Support your local growers, your local producers, your local artisans and crafters. Be respectful. Let our visitors know what you think of their actions (calmly).

As stated the above was written on the fly, I have not even yet changed out of my oily coveralls. The board of directors did not have a chance to see this and are not responsible for my comments.

Thanks to all who make market a great place vendors and customers....

If you want more information about our visitors you can find it here,

https://www.facebook.com/events/2325014511152025/

 tom pink, manager, owen sound farmers' market

source: OSFarmers' Market Facebook page

image source: VisitGrey.ca