Politics & Government

Farmers Market Vote Postponed in St. Louis County

Clayton Farmer's Market manager Deb Henderson has asked for a review of the bill's wording on liability, dogs and operating days.

If fresh vegetables, fruit and homegrown products is a preference, setting standards for farmers markets is easily understood. Even though there isn't one in the , Ferguson Farmers Market is just a few miles away. Hazelwood is also home to a few farms including .

A vote on a proposed farmers market bill has been postponed so the County Council can review changes proposed by 's market manager.

The council has been in cooperation with market officials and the .

In a letter dated March 23, Deb Henderson of the Clayton Farmer's Market wrote that the wording of the bill is problematic because it will:

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  • Require markets to get more liability insurance to protect their managers
  • Prevent patrons from walking their dogs at markets
  • Restrict markets to operating only 120 days during the year
  • Require markets to file for a new permit when a change in management occurs

The council had been scheduled to give the measure final approval Tuesday. But members agreed to hold on voting to address Henderson's concerns.

Henderson recommended in the letter that the bill be updated so that the market—not the manager—is liable for any violations of health code.

Her other recommendations:

  • Allow dogs, provided that they are leashed; that they are not taken into stalls or booths; and that owners pick up and dispose of their waste.
  • Allow markets to operate for one calendar year. That way, vendors can work multiple days each week and not worry about whether they've reached the 120-day cap, she said.
  • Allow a market representative to sign the permit, as opposed to just the market manager, so that turnover doesn't cause problems.

Henderson said Wednesday that she hopes the council will make the issue a priority.

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Over the last year, she said, she has spent an average of 20 hours per week trying to update the county's farmers market legislation in cooperation with the county.

"Just a simple wording change will prevent problems later on," she said. "… It's a lot less work to finish it well now than it is to try to pick it up and amend something later."

It's her understanding that the council will review her requests. If it agrees changes need to be make, it will work with the county's health and legal department to update the bill's language. Then the council will again vote on the measure.


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