Thursday, July 30, 2009

Former Market Commission Chair Fights For Better Baked Goods Rules At Market

In this posting, Fuzzbollah is allotting to former Market Commission Chair Luis Vazquez the Bully Pulpit. He proposes to speak before the Ann Arbor City Council, and protest at the 90th Anniversary of the Farmer's Market. Below is an open letter to be sent to City Council, the Parks Advisory Commission, and the Public Market Advisory Commission. If you wish to support Mr Vazquez's petition, please do so in the comments section below the posting.

Take it away Mr Vazquez:

It is said that one bad apple can spoil a whole barrel full.

The Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market is billed as a “producer only” market. Customers of the market rely on the notion that vendors are growing the produce, making baked goods from scratch, and hand-making crafts sold at the market. In fact, as the 90th anniversary of the Farmer’s Market is being celebrated, the city’s website contains the following statement “The Ann Arbor Farmers Market features locally grown food, plants, prepared food items, and handcrafts, all sold by the wonderful people who make them.” My concern is for the integrity of these statements and notions, and to bring to your attention rules that are not being followed that could damage the reputation of our Farmer’s Market.

Chapter 31 of City Code states the following:
2:94. Persons who may use.
The Public Market may be occupied by persons who are offering for sale articles of their own raising or production.

Market Operating Rules state the following:
V. MARKET OPERATIONS
1. Vendor Operations
A. Vendors shall use the Market in strict accordance with the Market Rules, and Chapter 31 of Ann Arbor City Code.
B. All food and products offered for sale at the Market must be grown or made by the vendor who offers the product for sale.
G. Vendors shall not misrepresent the quantity, quality, type or origin of food or products in any way.
H. All food and products offered for sale at the Market must be grown by the vendor, or made by the vendor in Michigan, Ohio, or Indiana.

I am directly approaching City Council with this matter because I have attempted to get redress of grievances through the proper channels and have been ignored. As a taxpaying citizen who has served over 5 years on the Market Commission, including 2 years as Chair of the commission, I feel I am getting the runaround from Ann Arbor’s Parks and Recreation Department.

In March of 2009, I contacted the Public Market Advisory Commission and asked them to consider and adopt a set of rules regarding baked goods (attached) that explicitly define what baked goods items are acceptable for sale at the market. When I was Chair of the Market Commission, we worked on such rules, but never got to the point of adoption of these rules as the Market Commission was dissolved in July 2007.

At the Public Market Advisory Commission meeting of April 21, 2009, I brought forth a complaint regarding vendor Kapnick’s Orchards after finding this vendor on the list of a baked goods supplier. I asked the PMAC and the Market Manager to inspect this vendor to verify the origin of their baked goods (not just their pies – all of their baked goods).

The Public Market Advisory Commission and the Market Manager have never replied to me regarding the consideration or adoption of the proposed baked goods rules, so I am appealing directly to the Ann Arbor City Council to adopt them.

Regarding my complaint about Kapnick’s Orchards, I never received a reply from the Market Manager, but did receive a reply from her Supervisor Jeffrey Straw, who states in an email “Our rules currently state that baked goods must be produced by the vendor but the definition of "produced" is not exclusively specific and therefore left to the decision of the market manager.”

I have no objection at all to vendor Kapnick’s Orchards continuing to sell apples and other produce that they grow. However, I vehemently object to any vendor having an unfair advantage over other legitimate baked goods vendors by using “thaw and bake” products, and putting a Kapnick’s Orchards label on them. There is evidence that Kapnick’s Orchards is not making or producing their baked goods they sell at our Farmer’s Market, and that deserves an investigation, not some bureaucratic baloney that the definition of a “producer” is so unclear or nebulous.

The Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market has already lost one legitimate baked goods vendor because of Kapnick’s deceptive baked goods practices. Big City Bakery owner Scott Newell found he could not compete with “thaw and bake” products being sold at the market and decided to not sell at the market anymore. Scott Newell’s business is located in the City of Ann Arbor, he pays taxes, and he also served on the Market Commission prior to it being dissolved. Scott wrote the proposed baked goods rules that are attached, and they deserve consideration and adoption.

I will be protesting at the 90th anniversary of the Farmer’s Market, and asking people for their signatures on a petition supporting adoption of the attached proposed baked goods rules. There will also be an opportunity for people to support the petition on-line.

Furthermore, I am asking City Council to consider discontinuing operation of the Farmer’s Market by the Parks and Recreation Department. My observations and experience tell me that Community Services Administrator Jayne Miller has dropped the ball in making improvements to the market’s physical structure (including years-long delays in basic maintenance) and market operating rules. I have absolutely no confidence in Jayne Miller, or Jeffrey Straw, to make the changes necessary for a successful market. They disregard citizen input, have contempt for community organizers, and make all of the decisions themselves regarding policies of the market. The most recent example is the imposition of increased stall fees. The Public Market Advisory Commission was not kept informed in a timely manner, opposed the stall fee increases, but was overruled by city functionaries – including City Council. If the Public Market Advisory Commission is so ineffective, and can be capriciously overruled, then why have a commission in the first place?

There is also citizen resistance to using any Parks and Rec millage taxpayer funds to make improvements to the market’s physical structure. I think it is tragic that after spending over $120,000 of Market Operating Fund money for a Master Plan, that City Council tabled indefinitely the proposals to build additional structures and water retention measures on the market site. Instead of the Farmers Market being a better revenue generator and a much more viable public space, we are stuck with a dull -looking, mismanaged, impossible-to-find-parking-nearby space.

A more suitable overseer may be the Downtown Development Authority, as they are more closely aligned with the business community in Ann Arbor. The market site is really a parking lot most of the time anyway. Perhaps the DDA can get Market Operating Rules revised in a timely manner, and enforced. The Farmer’s Market deserves a fresh start with the slate wiped clean.

City Council should seriously consider what is happening in our city regarding local foods. There is substantial interest in creating alternative farmers markets – the Zingerman’s lot on the westside of Ann Arbor, and the Liberty Lofts property come immediately to mind. The focus would be on artisanal foods, local foods, and organic foods. These markets have the potential of taking business away from the traditional Farmer’s Market. I believe businesses at Kerrytown would suffer the loss as well. If citizens and visitors cannot be assured of the origin of their produce and baked goods, then “we the people” will seek out alternatives.

The proposed Baked Goods Rules are as follows:

DEFINITION OF BAKED GOODS
Definition of seller: A seller is the producer of the item or items sold. There can be NO RESALE of pre mixed, pre formed or pre baked items not made by the seller. The seller must be the producer/creator of the item/ items sold as defined below.

If the item is a baked good then that item must be MIXED, FORMED and
BAKED BY THE SELLER in exact accordance with the following definitions:

Pies: No pre made thaw and bake or pre made thaw and serve pies are allowed to be sold at the Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market. Pie fillings must be mixed by the seller. Any canned fillings must have additional new ingredients which distinguish it from the original canned product added by the seller and the pie shell must have been mixed by the seller and formed by the seller. The pie must be baked at the business address given on the application which must be the true location of business and production of the item.

Cookies: No pre made thaw and bake or thaw and serve cookies are allowed to be sold at the Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market. Cookies must be mixed by the seller and formed by the seller and baked by the seller. Any pre mixed ingredients must have additional new ingredients added by the seller at the address location given on the application which must be the true location of the business and production of the item(s) for sale at the Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market.

Breads: No thaw and bake or thaw and serve breads are allowed to be sold at the Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market. Breads must be mixed by the seller and formed by the seller and baked by the seller. Any pre mix ingredients must have additional new ingredients added by the seller at the address location given on the application which must be the true location of the business and production of the item(s) for sale at the Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market.

All other baked items: No thaw and bake or thaw and serve baked goods are allowed to be sold at the Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market. All other baked goods items must be mixed by the seller and formed by the seller and baked by the seller at the address location given on the application which must be the true location of the business and production of the item(s) for sale at the Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market.

Other baked goods examples:
Brownies may be from a pre-made box mix only if new ingredients are added to said mix. Brownies must be mixed by the seller and formed (rolled, cut, etc) by the seller and baked by the seller, at the address location given on the application which must be the true location of the business and production of the item(s) for sale at the Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market.

Pizza must have crust mixed by the seller and formed by the seller and ingredients added and baked by the seller, at the address location given on the application which must be the true location of the business and production of the item(s) for sale at the Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market.

EXCEPTIONS: The thaw and bake rule can be waived ONLY if the seller mixed and formed and then froze the items themselves. No thaw and bake items are allowed to be sold at the Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market unless the seller froze the items they mixed and formed and baked themselves.

Example:
Breads can be mixed, formed, frozen, (baked or unbaked) then sold only by the seller who makes them.

Pros: Since most of the baked goods sellers at the market already meet the above criteria, they will be affirmed in the knowledge that the items offered for sale are unique and comply with Market Operating Rules, and also will gain the public’s trust.

Cons: Those vendors who violate these rules will be forced to either increase their costs of operation to comply with the rules (possibly increasing prices paid by the consumer), or they will have to forego the income they would otherwise make at the Farmer’s Market from baked goods.

49 comments:

sharon & family said...

where and when can my family sign the petition? IMHO absolutely NO one should maintain they are a baker if they are selling these types of products... Homemade is what my family expects and hopefully this vendor will stop bringing these types of products to our market! We will not buy from this vendor until the truth be told. Has the vendor made any comments? perhaps by using signs as "homemade"?
why is this vendors name on hill and valley list and liparis? Come clean vendor as you are spoiling the 90th anniversary with your products

fuzzbollah said...

Mr. Vazquez will be at the Farmer's Market on Saturday, August 8th, during the 90th Anniversary celebration to collect signatures on his petition. He will try to be there by 8am, and will set up by the 5th Avenue entrance to Kerrytown.

paula and jessica said...

I'd like to sign the petition good luck. funny Kapnick's did not want to respond to the observer. could be a costly BIG MISTAKE for this "baker"? what a goofball.. see you on the 8th

Russ and Judy T said...

just finished reading the aug. observer about the baked goods from Kapnick Orchards. I too found the info on Hill and Valley.
this vendor makes hot dog and hamburger buns from scratch?????
get off my ass. I've seen this stuff and usually pass by, as it is white flour and sugar..basically what I DO NOT call this stuff is healthy eating. Markets are considered a place for great fresh homemade, homegrown foods and this vendor does not sell such a product if the products are from mixes or frozen.

Anonymous said...

Kapnicks didn't respond to the questions regarding their baked goods!to the Ann Arbor Observer??? the vendor should truthfully respond to customers questions. LOL
Mr. Robertello has already admitted the products were not homemade. back in 2001 at a commission meeting. he stated this.
since then the city has refused to eliminate these products from being sold at the market. This vendor will not loose money as the business is a retail store that also sells liquor and cigarettes..
This vendor does several other markets around the area, maybe they could be alerted to this Saturday's protest/petiotion drive

Thanks Lou for all you do and to fuzz for the site.
I'll be there to sign

Anonymous said...

the arbor market blogger Glen Thompson relies on the city to determine whether the products this vendor sells are truly homemade. anyone can tell these products are not homemade. Poor Glen.. let's here from the owner instead of him hiding behind a market manager's assumptions..
consumers beware..

David Nelson said...

Fuzzbollah,

Bravo for your dedication to transparency at the farmer's Market (I've been keeping an eye on Arbor Market Watch since February, curious about how this would all develop). I write the business column for the Current, and am hoping that you'd be willing to discuss this a little further over email. I can be reached at NelsonBizBuzz@gmail.com.

Thanks again for rattling the cages. I look forward to hearing from you.

Best,
David Nelson . . .

Jesse said...

Mr. Straw mentions only pies in the observer article. this "baker"lol sells much more than pies.
using mixes should not be allowed either. it's like betty crocker, or jiffy...
there are no markets i can find that allows these types of products to be sold at their markets.

julie winecord said...

we have already had a market manager maintain the baked products brought to market by this vendor are from Lipari foods out of warren mi. have looked at the products offered by lipari and most all is frozen pre-made baked goods. Kapnick orchards is a retail store.. bringing in fruit and veggies? is this store actually growing fruits and veggies or bringing them to sell at the store and market from other farmem/farmers?

Anonymous said...

have to agree with mr. V and fuzzbollah. jayne miller has ruined the market and the credibility of a 'producer only' market. these types of products should not be allowed. by the way a simple call to lipari in warren mi. confirmed that it does distribute to kapnick orchards..

since jayme miller has taken part in market issues, these are a few of the other things she has done.

she now allows vendors to sub lease lease their stalls to other business entities. recent memory serves it was janice kapnick that is doing so as she leases her assets to kapnick farm market inc.
she gave transference and seniority to a corporation r&S farms inc.)
that had nothing to do with kapnick orchards inc. (she is allowing buying and selling, investigating some vendors twice while others have not been. the wreaths sold at market have not been inspected yet, but mr. heim was asked for 2 inspections. the list goes on. ms. miller is talked about alot around many circles in ann arbor none of which i have found favorable to how she deals with many city issues.

fuzzbollah said...

All the market manager has to do is show up - unannounced - with a witness, on a Friday morning, and watch Mr Robertello and his staff "make" their baked goods that they intend to bring to market the next day.

And you're right about Jayne Miller and Jeff Straw. They have soooo screwed up this Farmers Market that they deserve to have it yanked from their death grip. Ann Arbor deserves better.

Anonymous said...

left messages on twitters about petition have a great day

Anonymous said...

seems jeff straw and the manager are'nt aware that a former city market manager did indeed state the baked goods from kapnick orchards are from Lipari foods in warrn mi. a call was made and sure enough lipari distributes to kapncik orchards

Anonymous said...

we can be certain the fudge from this kapnick orchards is from mixes. from lipari, jiffy, ? who knows but as the application states the fudge is from a mix. imagine getting from from mackinaw island and then finding out it was from a mix. quite different products don't you agree! what is a baker? fudge maker? now hot dog and hamburger buns, let's have this baker demonstrate how they scratch make these items they sell... or better yet sign the petition.. Thanks mr. vazquez

Luis Vazquez said...

Arbormarketwatchers may be interested to note that when I showed up to do my little protest action on Saturday August 8th, two Ann Arbor Police squadcars were there. One of the officers came up to me and asked "is this all your going to be doing today?", referring to my standing at the entrance to the market and collecting signatures while wearing a pie tin on my head, and a cardboard cut and decorated to look like a slice of pie. "Yes sir" was my reply.

Also, when Glenn Thompson was walking by, I asked him to sign my petition and he either said "I'm not signing your fucking petition" or "I'm not signing your phony petition". Wow, what a friend of the market, huh? I also asked him through his arbor market blog if his group supports the proposed baked goods rules - written by a real baker - and he has so far refused to post my question, as well as the proposed rules.

stop selling this crap at the market said...

Glen Thompson is just embarassed by his actions regarding supporting this vendor in a previous encounter . he now realizes the baked goods aren't from recipes from Janice kapnick.
Mr. Thompson must support these types of products however, he should highlight these FAKED GOODS on his weblog. it doesn't take much to tell manufactured products from the real thing.
just how do they make those hot dog and hamburger buns.
I have found they bring down baked goods they haven't sold at their retail store and sell for reduced prices. is this really what goes on at other markets...ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!

fuzzbollah said...

Interested Arbormarketwatchers can also now look at the Ann Arbor Chronicle website - the article regarding the August 5th Council Caucus meeting - to see what Mr Vazquez had to say. He is very very dissatisfied with market management, in particular Jeff Straw and Jayne Miller. Wresting control of the market from Parks and Recreation's mismanagement should be considered by City Council.

Karen Sidney, Glenn Thompson's wife, or significant other, wrote a reply to the article, not addressing the Kapnick's Thaw and Bake issue, or market mismanagement, just criticizing the idea that the Downtown Development Authority should perhaps be the entity the market gets transferred to. Apparently she, and presumably Glenn Thompson, as far as we can tell, are happy with management of the market. Mr Vazquez points out that he is very surprised, since Karen Sidney is usually one to "muckrake" through city finances, rooting out misspending of city funds. Karen, we ask you, who is paying the overtime for the non-union painters at the market this week? They were observed there yesterday at 7pm.

Anonymous said...

dept. of ag verifies 2 longstanding vendors selling perennial plants are not growers. no growers license or inspection report from the dept. of ag

oh no Jayne miller, jeff straw and molly what are you going to do now? claim these longtime vendors forgot to get an inspection for "growing" their perennial plants?
another case of buying and selling... putting the real growers at a disadvantage.
also,
the market has family farms and corporate farms. one of the larger corporate farms is listed on the internet as making between 750,000-2,000,000$$$$. this vendor Kapnick, has 3 stalls in the front on Detroit street, does well over 5 markets in the area and "rents" fruit trees from nother orchards , has a large retail store that sells liqour and cigareetes etc. and now is allegedly bringing manufactured products to market. then there's the true small family farms KING'S family farm..or garden works, wagner's . mildred parket, brines farm, the small family farm is what the market was suppose to encourage to come to market. most of these family farms support the ann arbor market only!

zingerman's at the market!!! go corporate!

consumers said...

if robertello had told the truth it would have become part of his past. however, robertello has told so many lies they have become
part of his future..

now jayne miller is sending threatening letters to consumers of the market. does the mayor and council know about the threatening letters? shame on you jayne miller. what are you trying to hide?

Anonymous said...

is jayne miller a joke or what?
jayne miller sends consumers a letter threatening freedom of speech and equality at the market.

artisans cannot produce products from kits so why is jayne miller allowing manufactured baked goods into the market from Kapnick's ?

Anonymous said...

did the original janice kapnick of kapnick orchards inc. produce these types of manufactured products?
Kapnick farm market inc. DBA kapnick orchards leases janices kapnick's assests. the original business was never sold or transferred to kapnick farm market inc. perhaps this new business entity doesn't get the hint that these type of products are not welcome nor within the city code regarding the market. jayne miller dropped the ball on this and now is allowing the public to be deceived about the integrity of the food supply coming into the market.
and molly sting she's not going to say wether the products are homemade or not?
will be posting on local harvest and the cover-up jayne miller is hoping for?

consumers said...

here's some info received just last week from dept. of agriculture. it helps support mr. vazques in his efforts to stop the faked goods and buying and selling.
Island Gardens is not licensed as a grower. They are licensed as a Nursery Plant Market (NPM001057) expiring 10/31/2009. Thank you for your inquiry.

Gracia J&T is not licensed as a grower. They have licensed as a Nursery Plant Market. (NPM010247 and NPM010249) Both licenses expiring 10/31/2009. Thank you for your inquiry.

so how come the manager is not capable fact checking? it makes them seem fairly silly when they maintain this is not ocurring at the market.

Anonymous said...

The faked baked debate goes on and is now a topic of conversation on Local Harvest and can be found at the following web page
http://www.localharvest.org/forum/forum.jsp?forum=4

peter S. said...

the police showed up? how funny is that? Perhaps it was to keep an eye on Mr. Robertello kapnick's
as he has assaulted before Sat.
he's been overheard by various vendors over the years calling other vendors names, now his wife does it too. or she says haha as she walks by.
he has 3 stalls and his wife victoria fox an artisan has her own stall. is this a violation of the rules? Jayne miller seems to think it's a hypothetical question..

Anonymous said...

recently an ann arbor citizen commented that the market was corrupt and should be abolished do you agree?

fuzzbollah said...

Yeah, Fuzzbollah also thinks that the current Ann Arbor Farmers Market is horribly corrupt, and should be abolished - start fresh with new, fairer rules and stall distribution, but Community Services Administrator Jayne Miller stands in the way by aiding and abetting the corruption.She stood idly by while Maxine Rosasco, 3-4 Market Managers ago, had her own pop and coffee concession running in the market office. Jayne stood idly by when Louise Wireman accepted a $50 cash "gift" from the Grower's Association, even though city employees are constrained from accepting gratuities. These are examples of incompetence - and they must be rooted out and exposed for all to see.

Regarding Victoria Fox, perhaps the market manager should require her to have a breathalyzer test before she is allowed onto the market.

jan said...

since artisans aren't allowed to produce products from kits, why is kapnick's selling premade and products from mixes? NONE of the other bakeries sell this kind of crap. the manager is Not doing what she is paid almost 50,000$ for 2 days work to do . get rid of the faked baked! no one will miss these products from this "baker"?!!! a faker baker?

tom r said...

these products are mass produced. the manager knows it.. did you read her statement in the annarbor.com article. what a jokester she is. the market is not a place to be selling mass produced baked goods.

Anonymous said...

anyone noticed the market manager is not promoting the market as a producer only market any longer. why not? cause she knows about the mass produced baked goods

Shirley R. said...

the market is suppose to give an alternative to consumers. that alternative is products not mass produced or commonly found at big box stores. However, seems to be alot of "proven winner" brand plants. A product that can be found at all the big box stores garden centers. saw them at k-mart, meijer, home depot, lowes, and several of the areas farm markets and nurseries. seems these are the only ones that can now be purchased by the dealers.
can't stand the thought of trying to find a place to park and then find out I could get these "branded" plants anywhere as they have flooded the market by the likes of four star greenhouse, a huge grower for many many many plant nurseries dealers.
if this is true about kapnicks baked goods preparing them as meijers does (pre-made frozen and mixes ,then what's the point of buying kapnicks when I can get easier parking at meijer and get the same product.
convince me that these products are unique and maybe i'll fight for a parking space and visit your market. until then meijers is better.

john S. said...

certainly grateful for this site and info. I will remember to NOT support this vendor nor purchase anything from them. what are the reasons the manager is allowing these products to be sold at our market? I support Mr. Vasquez' efforts to rid the market of these types of products entering into the A2 food system. First off the products are white sugar and flour crap foods. a far cry from Big City Bakery all homemade products. we lost this vendor.
Glad to see the market manager shop at Big City bakery. Now let's get Sctt Newell back to market and get rid of Kapnicks "crappy manufactured baked goods".

Anonymous said...

consider the facts... all baked goods at market are made from scratch except for this vendors products. Are consumers aware of this or are they assuming these products are also made from scratch? This is a deception to consumers. this vendor should be required to have a sign maintiang their products are from mixes and pre-made frozen, as this would distinguish their products from the bakers that make their products from scratch.

Anonymous said...

it's like comparing boxed dry fake milk to real milk.

Anonymous said...

over at the aa chronicle it is reported the advisory board is talking about the words "made" and "significanr effort" with regards to Kapnick's faked baked goods. give us a break! since all the other bakers bake from scratch how can they allow another to make things from mixes or frozen from another manufacturer be considered the same significant effort?
The question is are they deceiving the public?
all the other bakers baked goods sold at market are baked from scratch. If Kapnick's are not from scratch then they have no place at this market.
absolutely no comparison to significant effort.
making fudge from a mix then adding flavorings is not the same as the homemade fudge from let's say Mackinaw island fudge for example.

stop this crap from being sold Mr Pollack, Mr. Brines, Molly, Jayne Miller and whomever else is involved in this scam

Thanks Mr. Wasquez for your work getting signatures for your petition. help keep these type of items out of your market.
the people of ann arbor expect all these baked items be from scratch. Imagine if it was discovered that zingermans bakery was bakibg from mixes.. there's the difference right there. scratch vs. faked baked.

susan mills said...

just ask google...
should baked goods at a famers market be made from scratch?

read for yourself... ALL BAKED GOODS SHOULD BE MADE FROM SCRATCH

that's what MOST IF NOT ALL Farmers markets require their baked goods to be.

abigail said...

there's a great article on
www.ecurrent.com on this very subject.. dated Oct. 28th 2009 article can be found at..

http://www.ecurrent.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1713:knowing-what-youre-getting&catid=118:biz-buzz&Itemid=458

entitled "Knowing what your getting" or search "Kapnick Orchards" on www.ecurrent.com

Anonymous said...

the article mentioned above is also ithis month in current magazine front of the magazine..

tom r said...

middlemen at the market? read the interpretation of "market rules" by Glen Thompson on his arbor market blog regarding "taking orders"at the market for another local grower and "delivering".."not selling". is this a middleman in diguise? who's this Gary person as Kevin M. is owner of TMZ.

middleman: an intermediary between producer/(manufacturer) and consumer, a dealer between the producer and consumer

fuzzbollah said...

Yes, Tom R. there really is a Santa Claus, and his name is Glenn Thompson - for market cheater Robertello of Krapnick's Orchards anyway. It never ceases to amaze Fuzzbollah, the gall and arrogance of Glenn Thompson, the self-appointed Market Czar, in interpreting "rules". Fuzzbollah imagines that he is well paid off in donuts, sugarless pies, and faked fudge.

wordtothewise said...

Are Robertello and Glen Thompson responsible for the cancellation of the market renovations?

fuzzbollah said...

@wordtothewise: I think you may be giving too much power to Robertello and Thompson. However, both did speak out in vehement opposition to renovations - with Robertello speaking for the "growers association", saying that the City Parks and Rec Department couldn't run golf courses effectively. Thompson had a hissy fit because his friend's design - extending Dead Man's Alley - was being poopoo'ed.

So, what are we left with? A poorly kept (look at the weeds growing in the cracks in the sidewalks, and the ash tree spaces left empty) eyesore that one risks their life crossing fifth avenue to get to.

Now the City is building this grandiose temple, cutting city services, and laying off police and firefighters (but leaving wasters like Jayne Miller in place). Don't hold your breath for market renovations.

Anonymous said...

kudos for Current magazine article about Kapnick's faked baked goods. ask someone other than the nominal owner and you get the truth. only 2 of the items are actually made from scratch. "know what your getting"

inquiringmindswanttoknow said...

management should adopt the made from scratch rule as they advertise as a "producer only market". Image if Pillars Tamales were bought frozen and just heated, would this be allowed?
Then there's the cotton candy and snow cones sold by a "farmer"? what's that about? the word "made" will have to be discussed in those terms. snow cones aren't made they are served.
same with cotton candy. If the market is promoting healthy locally grown foods, why are these products sold by a farmer?
management if your reading.. any reply?

Anonymous said...

Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now keep it up!

Anonymous said...

Wasn't this robertello kapnick on the commission? If so why is he lying to customers about his products? Only a small portion are homemade from scratch according to his workers. This undermines the buy local support local farms. this is just plain creepy to have such deception. that's why I shop elsewhere

Anonymous said...

Good dispatch and this enter helped me alot in my college assignement. Thank you as your information.

Anonymous said...

The market has another manager that refuses to answer straight forward questions. Will send info and am asking that you post it for all to see how Jayne Miller handles the market and now has Molly (thousands of dollars salary Molly)avoiding answering questions.

Anonymous said...

"KNOW What YOUR GETTING" article in the nov. cuurant was great. Sometimes it is best to go to the employees and ask rather than the owner. It gave customers the truth. The owner still has not made a statement.
It is not only a matter of "Knowing what your getting" from this vendor, it is from which corporation your getting it from, as there are three listed at the state as DBA Kapnick Orchards.Apply date April 0f 2009. yes, Scott's corporations were using the name of another active corporation from 1998-2009(which is illegal which of the 3 corporations is responsible for the baked goods? By using the name Kapnick Orchards on their products they were misrepresenting the origin of products.


Check the records out at the DLEG.
And has anyone heard of R&S Farm Inc. it was added to the Kapnick business in partnership. what are there products. they were not labeled and sold under their real corporate business name now were they!!! Certainly did catch this vendor in sooooo many lies.. especially liked the one when the city stated Mr. Robertello was a partner in Kapnick Orchards INC. we all no now that was not true. The name of the partnership is R&S Farm not Kapnick Orchards. What dummies and fools at the city level.

Anonymous said...

exciting things are happening over at the chronicle.reporting market stuff... A transference of seniority issue and the commission is going to vote!!?Peter Pollack was found stating that the commission would be voting on this subject. certainly a few of the old commission should show up. They voted to make Scott Robertello apply for tranference of seniority and Jayne Miller stated he didn't have to.


Also this scott guy from kapnick orchards doesn't like the new application. could this be because the truth be told.. products are not homemade made from scratch?

Molly will probably still allow this type of product because the new application if accepted,now states "assembled". so if he is buying premade frozen then adding a few sesame seeds on top of the frozen breads, bakes it, hasn't he "assembled" it? don't know what's others opinions.. start this topic on your blog...