Arbor Market Watch

Tabone Orchards Persecuted at Market!!

2011-10-25T20:15:00.002-04:00

Fuzzbollah has been informed of recent persecution of Tabone Orchards by Market Management. As of this time, there is only some sketchy information available, but once Fuzzbollah digs into it, be ready for some stench!! Funny that the persecution would be of another orchard, the limited details offered made it sound like a similar incident involving Erie Orchards. Way back when, someone associated with the Growers Association cartel complained about Erie allegedly selling out-of-state peaches, which was later to be proven false. Erie was forced out of the market for some time, and the owner was forced to spend considerable time and money proving the allegations false.

This time, a similar complaint was lodged against Tabone. Fuzzbollah wonders whether this is all a set-up. The last time was a Growers Association cartel concoction (with Scott Robertello, a worker from Kapnick Orchards as one of the complainants). Somebody should do a FOIA to see just exactly who the complainant is this time. Fuzzbollah would put money on it being a cartel shill.

Stay tuned!

Fuzzbollah Proposes "Medical Marijuana Daze" At Ann Arbor Farmers Market

2011-03-01T13:15:00.005-05:00

Photos from Seattle Weekly

If Seattle, WA can do it, why can't Ann Arbor?

http://www.seattleweekly.com/slideshow/seattles-first-cannabis-farmers-market-32673345/8/

From the article: "More than 600 people showed up Sunday for Seattle's first Cannabis Farmer's Market, held at the Little Red Bistro in South Lake Union. Market founder Jeremy Miller said he plans to bring the market to Seattle two more times next month (in addition to stops in Olympia and Tacoma)."

We have the perfect facility here in our beloved town, along with a "cannabis sensitive" culture. All that would have to be done is to designate one day per week at the Ann Arbor Farmers Market to help dispense needed medicines to those worthy individuals who have MMMJ cards, licensed by the State of Michigan. MMMJ patients could be assured they are receiving locally-grown, high quality medicines, and the Farmers Market could earn more by leasing stall spaces to local growers. It only makes abundant sense.

In fact Fuzzbollah is getting out in front of this issue early in Ann Arbor. In response to a February 4, 2011 article in the Ann Arbor Chronicle regarding the Ann Arbor City Council's continued deliberations on a licensing procedure for MMJ dispensaries and cultivation facilities, Fuzzbollah wrote the following:

"Definitely yes, more compassion is what is needed. MMJ does provide significant pain relief, and without the many side effects of prescription drugs. Not every patient or caregiver is going to be able to produce the high-quality high-cannabinoid concentration medicines that are needed by state-licensed MMJ patients. What happens when the caregiver or grower/patient messes up their crop? Are they supposed to go without their meds, and suffer in pain? Or not be able to follow through with chemotherapy – in the case of many cancer patients – because they can’t keep their food or chemo drugs down?

There must be an outlet, a compassionate outlet and option for those times when a patient cannot get their medicine through the usual channels or because their crop has failed for whatever reason. With some of the communities around Ann Arbor, and the whole rest of the state for that matter, placing all sorts of impediments in the way for MMJ consumers to obtain their medicines, Ann Arbor is likely to be a place where many will come. This reeks of opportunity.

I agree some kind of regulation of the market will be necessary. We don’t want criminal elements controlling the MMJ marketplace. Quality control can be huge issue. Perhaps MMJ sold in A2 should be tested for cannabinoid content so the patients can understand which variety is best for their particular condition, and to ensure they are getting the best – and not getting burned. One way for MMJ patients to have a say in all this is to have MMJ patients appointed to the proposed licensing board. I can also see the day when A2 has its own MMJ Commission. If marijuana is legalized outright in the future, these controls could prove beneficial as they will already be in place.

Maybe there should be a MMJ day at the Farmers Market!"

"No Faked Goods" Makes It To National Media!!

2010-05-03T13:35:00.002-04:00

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703404004575198270918567074.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_6

An article appearing in the April 29, 2010 edition of The Wall Street Journal highlights the fraud occurring at some of the Farmers Markets across the country. The article cites the "No Faked Goods" campaign being waged by former Market Commission Chair Luis Vazquez, and Kapnicks "operator" Scott Robertello's (note he did not say to the WSJ reporter anything about his purported 'ownership' of Kapnick's Orchards) continued flouting of "Producer-only" Market Operating Rules.

Apparently, Market Muckraker Vazquez is not alone in advocating for better policing of "Producer-only" claims. Also apparent is that numerous markets are attempting to "weed out" the "bad apples" - those re-sellers who undercut the REAL farmers.

As Locavore movements sprout up across the US, one can expect that this issue will not die, and maybe, just maybe, Market Manager Mollie Notarianni will get the message that Ann Arborites do not want fraud.

It should be noted that at the Market Commission meeting on April 6th, 2010, Mr Vazquez asked the Market Manager to investigate the sale (re-sale really) of "Proven Winners" plants. There are a few vendors at the market re-selling these items. Vendors must include a Proven Winners tag in their pots as they sell the plants - this according to an agreement which MUST be signed by the vendor. The agreement can be found here: http://www.fourstargh.com/information/documents/Customer-GrowerAgreement2009-2010.pdf

Curiously enough, during the meeting, Market Commissioner Dave Barkman admitted to selling Proven Winners plants at the Ann Arbor Farmers Market, and tried to claim they are "just like any other plants sold there." Great, we have a sitting commissioner, from out-of-town, who knowingly is breaking the Producer-only rules, involved in the rulemaking process.

We begin to see a pattern here: first, Scott Robertello was a Market Commissioner who had a hand in delaying any rules development and construction of additional sheds at the market. He participated on a "Harassment Committee" and tried to get Mr Vazquez removed from the commission, and another organic produce vendor arrested - for very flimsy reasons. Now we have another Market Commissioner - Dave Barkman - who was also a member of the Harassment Committee (boy, did they ever name themselves correctly!), who sells the same Proven Winner plants that one can purchase locally (and presumably for a better price) at Meijers, The Produce Station, Alexander Farm Market, Abbott's Nursery, English Gardens, Home Depot, Fraleigh's Landscape Nursery, Plymouth Nursery, J&T Gracia's (wait - they're another A2 Farmer's Market vendor!) and about 100 other retailers within 25 miles of Ann Arbor (see list in the locator at www.provenwinners.com). Are the Proven Winners products so unique that they should be given premium space (and price) at our market? Undercutting those real farmers who can prove they grow from seed?

All of this must be embarrassing to the Market Commission, and to the Market Manager. They may have to change the name from Farmer's Market to Broker's Market, because of the fraudulent business activities of a few unscrupulous vendors.

Fuzzbollah suggests its long past time to clean up the corruption at this market, and that Dave Barkman resign from his commission post before somebody demands his removal for cause.

Seniority Abuse At The Market

2010-04-05T20:08:00.010-04:00

On Tuesday April 6th, 2010, during the Public Market Advisory Commission meeting, a public hearing will be held on an application to transfer seniority rights. However, since the City of Ann Arbor has not placed PMAC meeting minutes for January-March 2010 on the PMAC portion of the City's website (isn't that part of what the $12,000 IT charge to the Market Operating Fund should cover?), the average citizen cannot rely on meeting minutes to know why such a public hearing is being held. The only public reference, other than the notice given in PMAC agendas for March and April 2010, is in an Ann Arbor Chronicle (March 4th)article on the March PMAC meeting. From the article: "The commission discussed a request to transfer market seniority from Ken Preilipp to Karlene Goetz. Preilipp – of HillTop Greenhouse & Farms – is retiring and has applied to transfer his seniority to Goetz, a relative who also sells at the market.

A public hearing on the transfer is set for the commission’s April 6 meeting. This is part of a standard process whenever a transfer is requested, said Molly Notarianni, market manager. The commission will then make a recommendation, which will be sent to the city’s community services administrator for a final decision.

Responding to a question from commissioner Diane Black, Notarianni said there are limited conditions under which seniority can be transferred: When someone dies, retires or the business is purchased.

Peter Pollack told commissioners that they should plan to vote on the transfer at the April 6 meeting."

We at Fuzzbollah think that the commission was not counting on the stinking pile of crap below:

What the complaint, from 2005, indicates is the displeasure of a group of 28 other vendors at the market with any seniority being given to Carleen Goetz, since she was maintaining a stall of her own at the market, along with or alongside Preilipp. The complaint also states that a previous complaint had been filed about Preilipp/Goetz seniority by another vendor - George Merkel - two years prior to this complaint!!

So why didn't the Market Manager(s) at the time - Louise Wireman in 2003, or Jessica Black in 2005 - DO ANYTHING about these seniority complaints??? These complaints were never even brought up before the commission in 2003 through 2007 (Look at the meeting minutes for those years - oh, wait a second, that would require an FOIA). Why do issues at the market drop out of sight and fester for years before action is taken?

With the issue of seniority and transfer of seniority rights at the market (Ann Arbor being probably the only Farmers Market in the whole US that has such a convoluted set of seniority and transfer rules), one gets the sense that seniority is "important". This next bit comes from another paragraph out of the Chronicle's article: "After the meeting, Notarianni clarified why the status of a vendor’s seniority is valued. There is a seniority list that records how long each vendor has been selling at the market – some vendors go back several decades, she said. At 6 a.m. every Saturday, the market manager gathers with the vendors to assign stalls for the day. A vendor’s seniority determines the order in which those stall assignments are made – the most senior vendor gets first pick, and so on." What Mollie won't acknowledge is that the City of Ann Arbor does not have COMPLETE records to indicate true seniority. In fact, in the past, seniority was determined by date of first APPLICATION to sell at the market, and was only recently changed to date of being issued a permanent stall.

Furthermore, just 3 years ago, Community Services Administrator Jayne Miller allowed Scott Robertello, who claims he owns Kapnick Orchards - which he most certainly DOES NOT - to transfer seniority rights from Kapnick Orchards to Kapnick Farm Market (or Kapnick LLC, or R&S Farms - or all 3 business entities - the City's Legal Department isn't clear about this) all WITHOUT ANY PUBLIC HEARING!! Such selective enforcement of rules is blatantly unfair.

All one has to do is ask Ann Arbor attorneys Kevin McDonald, Abigail Elias, and Mary Fales of the City's Legal Department the following: At what meeting of the Market Commission was a transfer of seniority recommended for approval for Scott Robertello to change from Kapnick's Orchards to Kapnick Farm Market (or any other business entity)? How was this transfer officially documented?

So, I can just picture everybody lawyering up depending on the outcome of this April 6th hearing for Preilipp and Goetz. If the PMAC recommends an OK for the seniority transfer, then at least one of the group of 28 that signed the complaint may bring suit against the City. But if the transfer is denied, then Preilipp and Goetz may sue the City for giving a pass to Robertello - and to Wasem's (when old lady Wasem died in 2007, a transfer of seniority would have been a mere formality, but then, per the rules, Bruce Upston would only be able to transfer seniority to 3 stalls - not the 4 they currently sell from). At the very least, you will see a whole bunch of angry vendors.

Better yet, why not just scrap the corrupted seniority system, start fresh and unbiased, and go to an annual lottery system?

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

2009-07-30T11:21:00.003-04:00

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.

Breaking News: Evidence Emerges Of Kapnick Thaw & Bake Cheating

2009-02-03T15:17:00.006-05:00

The screen capture here shows Kapnick's to be on mega-bakery Hill & Valley's vendor list. This list can be found at the following weblink: http://www.hillandvalley.net/results-state.php?startpos=40&State2=MI

The listing also refers to Lipari, a major food distributor which delivers pre-made pies and baked goods mixes to vendors all around the mid-west US. A list of all of Lipari's offerings can be found at the following weblink: http://www.liparifoods.com/catalogs/bky.pdf

The horrible thing about all this is that legitimate Ann Arbor bakers who sell or have sold baked goods at the Farmers Market are undercut and disadvantaged by unscrupulous vendors such as Kapnick's, who, as the evidence above shows, may buy frozen, pre-made pies and other baked goods, sprinkle a little sugar on top, bake, and bring to the Farmer's Market to sell as "their own product".

One former vendor who should lodge a complaint is Scott Newell, the owner of Ann Arbor's own Big City Bakery. Mr Newell, also a former Market Commissioner, complained to previous Market Managers that there was "thaw and bake" going on at the Ann Arbor market, but was dismissed for his efforts. As a business operating in the City of Ann Arbor, and making baked goods from scratch, Big City Bakery is a taxpaying business, and Scott Newell is a City resident who pays property taxes. Why should he put up with a competition that has distinct and unfair advantages? In fact, Scott Newell offered up specific criteria for baked goods to be sold at the market, but the criteria were dismissed out of hand by Parks and Rec manager Jayne Miller, when the previous Market Commission was drafting a new set of Market Operating rules. Scott Newell's suggestions for rule language should be revisited by the City and the Public Market Advisory Committee.

The City, and in particular Molly Notarianni the current Market Manager should immediately suspend Kapnick's from selling any more baked goods at the Farmer's Market, and should investigate Kapnick's for this violation of the cardinal Market Operating Rule: you must grow or make what you sell at the market. If an investigation indicates that Kapnick indeed violated the rules, then Kapnick's should forfeit their seniority, and be banned from selling at the Farmer's Market.

Fuzzbollah Succeeds In Getting Glenn Thompson's Head To Explode

2009-01-24T17:38:00.007-05:00

Well, I guess poor old Glenn can't handle the truth. A thread started in the comments to the last post in his blog - Arbormarket. When fuzzbollah tried to add in to the comments, in a free speech sort of way, Glenn chose to delete a rebuttal that had been made to his own misinformational statements. All fuzzbollah was trying to do was point out the truth! Glenn Thompson, Fuzzbollah thinks you are so pathetic!

The thread goes as follows:

Vendors said...

Here's a link to the 2008 Northville Farmer's market.
http://www.northville.org/Events_Calendar/Content/Vena%27s_Greenhouse/

The persons in the photo are Denise Brock and her husband. MY question to Mr. Thompson is the following..
Since Ms. Brock is owner of Vena's Greenhouse and they have 3 stalls at the A2 market, is Denise Brock entitled to 3 more stalls at the A2 market? Totaling 6 stalls

January 15, 2009 11:08 AM
________________________________________________________________________________
Glenn Thompson said...

The two markets are completely independent. I don't see any logical basis for your question.

January 16, 2009 8:17 PM
________________________________________________________________________________
Anonymous said...

the business entity of "vena's greenhouse" has 3 stalls at the
A2 market. since Denise and Carol are owners of Vena's greenhouse" is Denise also entitled to have the business entity of "Denise Brock " at the A2 market (she has 3 stalls).
Denise Brock has 2 businesses at the A2 market.

January 17, 2009 2:04 PM
________________________________________________________________________________
Glenn Thompson said...

Again, the two Markets are independent.

The Ann Arbor Market has determined that Carol Vena and Denise Brock are both entitled to separate stall space. Through long term service, following the market rules for seniority, they have acquired 3 stalls each.

What they choose to do at the Northville Market is not relevant.

January 17, 2009 6:00 PM
________________________________________________________________________________
Anonymous said...

so at the A2 market Denise Brock is not owner of Vena's Greenhouse?

January 19, 2009 1:01 PM
________________________________________________________________________________
Glenn Thompson said...

That is possible.

January 19, 2009 4:38 PM
________________________________________________________________________________
Blogger fuzzbollah said...

What is relevant, Glenn, is that Ann Arbor's Market Operating Rules contained provisions about businesses operating at the market, that they should be "single business entities". Back in 2000, the Market Commission ruled that Carol Vena and Denise Brock should not be operating together, but as 2 separate single business entities at the Ann Arbor market - but they continued to violate those rules that were in place. Carol Vena and Denise Brock are forced to operate as a single business entity at the Northville Market under Vena's Greenhouse.

What exactly IS the business arrangement between Denise Brock and Carol Vena, and why is that even important for Ann Arbor's market? Do Carol and Denise own Vena's Greenhouse together? Do they share growing space? Do they grow anything independently from each other? Does Denise "rent" or "lease" space from Carol or vice versa? Why should they be allowed 6 stalls when in reality they operate as one business? This is unfair on its face, and I don't know how you can defend this practice. You should be ashamed of yourself, and apologize to all those vendors who have had to wait YEARS before being able to get even ONE permanent stall.

January 22, 2009 1:24 PM
________________________________________________________________________________

Glenn Thompson said...

You are confusing what is a business entity and what you think it should be. It is entirely possible, for example, for Brock Farms, Brock Greenhouses, Vena Farms, and Vena Greenhouses to all be separate legal business entities. It is entirely possible that the business entities at the Ann Arbor Market are entirely separate from those at Northville even if the principals involved are the same.

Two unrelated people could sell separately at the Ann Arbor Market and then sell as a partnership at Northville. Would you oppose this? On what legal basis? Is your great concern simply that the people involved are related?

If the son or daughter of a doctor or lawyer decides to become a doctor or lawyer would you try to prohibit them from practicing in the same city? Would it be "wrong" for them to share a legal office or a common library?

Many of my uncles were farmers. They started with a section of my grandfathers farm. Should they have been prohibited from selling milk to the same dairy? We should be encouraging sons and daughters to stay in farming rather than providing obstacles that encourage them sell the family land for development.

January 23, 2009 2:27 PM
________________________________________________________________________________
The following post from fuzzbollah was deleted by Glenn:

When this particular family business monopolizes the public space, they deprive other farmers from gaining a foothold in the marketplace. They deprive legitimate farmers of their livelihood and the chance to make a decent living, enough to want to come back to sell at the market with a much wider variety of goods.

You are forgetting the fact that this particular family business did break Market Operating Rules, in the process of conducting their business to their own benefit, not for the benefit of the community. They deserved the very punishment that they sought for others to have inflicted upon them, which could be expulsion from the market, and loss of seniority. In addition, this particular family business, as part of a so-called grower's association, managed to manipulate market politics for many years, and intimidating and threatening other vendors until a small valiant group of vendors and citizen/customers came and took away their power during the recent upheaval days of the Market Commission. I have observed that this particular family business holds Ann Arborites in contempt. I find them to be nasty vendors selling sub-par produce and seedling flats which look like they come from a distributor. They use chemicals on their produce. I take my business elsewhere in the market, usually to the organic growers.

The market is scarce public space, and the business generated there should be for the benefit of the public. The barriers to greater diversity of produce at the Ann Arbor Public Market include one particular family business allowed to occupy more than 10% of the stalls on the busiest market days. Its that kind of pet treatment that has been reducing the ability of other legitimate area farmers to be able to stay on their land, and which kills our market.

Again, you support this unfair situation?

January 23, 2009 10:38 PM
________________________________________________________________________________
I leave you, the reader to make any conclusions you want to make. My conclusions are that Glenn Thompson has too much time on his hands, insists on having the final word - and usually totally wrong at that, is probably not getting laid at all - or has severe constipation - you choose your own theory, and that he refuses to be a real American and air all points of view.

The Cheater Vendors From Hellville Strike Again !!

2009-01-15T12:12:00.005-05:00

The CHEATERS known as vendors Carol Vena and Denise Brock still operate freely at the Ann Arbor Public Market, although they violate a cardinal Market Operating Rule that allows a single business entity to maintain only up to 3 stalls. The management of the Public Market, despite numerous attempts at informing them of such violations of Market Rules, continues to let these CHEATERS get away with it. These two vendors, Carol Vena and Denise Brock, also make a ton of money at the Northville Farmers Market, but can only operate there as a single business entity. At the Ann Arbor Public Market, Denise Brock gets 3 annual stalls, and Carol Vena gets 3 annual stalls. They are allowed by the market management in Ann Arbor to operate as 2 separate businesses, when clearly, from the screen capture above, they are ONE BUSINESS!!

This unfair situation that has been allowed to continue year after year at the Ann Arbor Public Market disadvantages all of the other vendors at the market. Carol Vena and Denise Brock are essentially doubling their income at the Ann Arbor Farmers Market on the backs of other vendors, many who have to wait years and years on a waiting list to obtain annual stall space. Now that the Public Market Advisory Commission is in the midst of revising rules at the Public Market, perhaps they can influence Jayne Miller, who supervises the Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation Department, to change her tune, and correct this long-standing market atrocity. Come on Jayne!! Stand up for what is fair!! Come on PMAC, DO THE RIGHT THING!! Cut these cheaters down to size!! Mollie Notarianni, Market Manager, are you going to let these cheaters push you around?? Glenn Thompson, self professed Arbor Market Czar, why do you defend and promote these creeps, don't you believe in fairness?

Oh, and another thing: the Gracia clan's greenhouse in Bellville should be inspected in February, March, and April. This should be done because there are indications they don't grow all of their seedlings from seed, they most likely purchase their flats from a larger distributor and then sell them with minimum inputs at the Ann Arbor Public Market, and claim that they are their own production. The 5 vendors who operate off the Gracia greenhouse (Delores Gracia, Tina Koski, T Gracia, Denise Brock and Carol Vena) are able to obtain 16 stall spaces at the market, monopolizing a public space for private benefit. Ann Arborites deserve better.

Fuzzbollah urges You, the consumer, to BOYCOTT CAROL VENA and DENISE BROCK!

Cheaters at the Market - The Biggest and Fattest Ones: Part 2 - Robertello/Kapnick or whatever it is they call themselves today

2008-11-26T10:29:00.005-05:00

The screen capture shown here comes from the Tecumseh Herald, in Tecumseh, Michigan. The article from the paper shows a photo of the owner of Kapnick Orchards, Sharon Shaffer. The caption underneath the photo says: Pictured above - Sharon Shaffer owner of Kapnick Orchards. An excerpt of the text from the article follows: Kapnicks are making the best of a bad situation by selling #2 peaches that are just as delicious as #1’s at rock bottom prices. The #2’s show the spots where the hail struck, like those pictured above held by owner Sharon Shaffer.

Scott Robertello, who claims he is the owner of Kapnick Orchards, has been allowed by the City of Ann Arbor Parks and Rec Department, to rent stalls at the Ann Arbor Public Market without going through the proper procedures required under the Market Operating Rules at the time he made application to vend under a different business entity.

Scott Robertello wasted the time and energy of the Market Commission. Here is a quote from the former Market Commission Chair, found on the blog www.arborupdate.com,
"The issue about Mr Robertello not transferring seniority rights from Kapnick Orchards to the store known as Kapnick Farm Market Inc. came up at that time (2002). I asked Mr Robertello after a Commission meeting if he had ever followed Market Operating Rule 7, and made a legal transfer of seniority rights, and he replied that he did not, "because Maxine (Rosasco) said I didn't have to". My reply was that Mrs Rosasco didn't have the authority to make that decision. The market's inspector at the time found that paperwork in Mr Robertello's file was a bit out of order, and he could not make a definite determination of Mr Robertello's status. My questions to the City's Legal Department, including attorney Mary Fales, went unanswered."

Instead of filing the proper paperwork required of all other vendors at the market, Mr Robertello essentially lied to City officials by saying he was the owner of Kapnick Orchards and circumvented the process in place. Yet Mr Robertello was one of the first to file complaints against other vendors (like Erie Orchards and Renaissance Acres Organic Herb Farm), and was allowed to maintain a seat on the Market Commission - in violation of criteria the City has for those who wish to be on Boards and Commissions.

Fraudulent business practices should not be rewarded, so Fuzzbollah says boycott Kapnick's!! or whatever they are calling themselves today.

Cheaters at the Market - The Biggest and Fattest Ones: A Series

2008-06-18T10:06:00.005-04:00

Why the market management lets cheaters get away with it is anybody's guess.

It could be that they're friends with each other, or maybe kissin' cousins, or lovers perhaps.

It could be that somebody is being 'paid off' in some way.

It could be that nobody has ever really cared enough to deal with the issues even though they have been pointed out and complained about.

The CHEATER known as Denise Brock is a champion at it. Fuzzbollah believes she obtained seniority at the market illegitimately, and the City staff let her get away with it. Rules in place have not been followed, and Denise has the gall to make statements to the press about it. Any reform efforts have been thwarted because people like Denise Brock gang up with people like Glenn Thompson and make it seem like they have 'public' support.

Denise Brock apparently cheats even now. A search of the Michigan Department of Agriculture's website on this date showed she has no grower's license from the Michigan Department of Agriculture. A Grower's License must be obtained by vendors at Farmer's Markets in order to vend perennials. Both Denise and Carol Vena have been told by past Market Commissions that they must maintain separate businesses, and function that way at the Ann Arbor Market, yet they continue to operate closely together. The City won't enforce its own rules, so the cheaters get away with it, and put other vendors at a disadvantage.

Get a load of Denise's statement to the Michigan Daily (October 10, 1996):
"The booths here are assigned according to seniority," Denise Brock said. She vends mainly plants, candle settings and painted pumpkins. Of the 144 booths, 66 people have permanent booths and 70 come to the Market and set up their booths randomly.

Myla Snyder, a vendor of polar fleece hats, collectively sums up the opinions of the vendors when she said, "It's like we're family."

In Denise Brock's case, this may actually be true. Smiling and gesturing toward 50 or so booths with a large sweeping motion of her hand, she said, "One half of them are family, we're really related to each other."

Such monopolizing of a public space has continued long enough!!

Fuzzbollah says Boycott Denise Brock!!

Glenn Thompson rears his ugly head in public - again

2008-05-16T21:40:00.006-04:00

Get this bullshit from Glenn Thompson, self-appointed market czar: "For many years the vendors at the Farmers Market have requested the Market be cleaned and painted, better lighting installed and the water and electric utilities improved. Jeff Dehring, a parks designer, has expanded this into a $1,500,000 renovation. More has been spent on consultants than would be required to do the work the vendors want. A simple maintenance task has been delayed years as the project keeps expanding."

As usual, Glenn neglects most of the story, and embellishes other parts of it to suit his own deluded purpose.

Firstly, Glenn does NOT speak for all of the vendors at the Public Market, there are many vendors who have wanted the market to be expanded, renovated, built upon in order to have more stall spaces to sell from. The destruction of the Kokinakis house on the market property presented a golden opportunity to construct what could be a premier showcase of a multi-use market space, not just some dingy parking lot with depression-era sheds.

Secondly, the current cost for a council-approved, market commission approved construction plan comes in at around $1 Million, with 1/3 paid by the DDA, 1/3 by Parks and Rec of Ann Arbor, and 1/3 paid by the Market Operating Fund, all of whom have the cash set aside to do the project. The delays that Glenn talks about are of his own making, he has rallied a few vendors to his cause, who have badmouthed ANY capital improvements proposed for the market, and showed up at hearings and council meetings to make it look like there is significant opposition to what is really a worthwhile project. Perhaps Glenn is predicting the future cost of completing the project, because his resistance has led to the delays, and the delays of construction have led to increased costs for construction. Any renovation MUST be accompanied by installation of water management systems, and improvements like that don't get any cheaper the more one waits. Glenn, stop blaming Jeff Dehring, he isn't at fault, YOU ARE.

Thirdly, Glenn Thompson does NOT speak for the citizens of Ann Arbor, maybe just a few. Over $90,000 was spent on consultants to come up with a vibrant proposal that Thompson didn't like, so he started up a phony interest group, put up a blog that makes it seem like he has an army of Ann Arborites supporting him, and he regularly communicates to City Council and the Market Commission that he doesn't want the market to be improved unless he agrees with the design. That $90,000 was literally pissed down the drain, forcing a market commission composed of volunteers to go back to the drawing board, and drawing out a process that could have been a completed by now, with a totally renovated, beautiful market structure, public space and surroundings that would have benefitted all Ann Arborites, vendors, and the Kerrytown business community.

Glenn Thompson is alot like the Bush administration - assume everything that comes out of his mouth is a lie until you can prove otherwise.

Market Gals Gone Wild

2008-03-17T13:59:00.002-04:00

OK, so nothing is really changing at the market. The Market Mafia (aka the Growers Association members: Carol Vena, Denise Brock, Delores Gracia, Toni Gracia, Tina Koski, Krapnick Orchards, Sparr Greenhouse, Wasem's, and a few other vendors who have dominated the market operations) are still in control, probably giving Jayne Miller (uber management of Parks and Rec) her marching orders. The deck has been shuffled once again, with the "new" Market Manager Molly Notarianni installed to keep business as usual going, and to continue the cover up of past misdeeds.

So what do we do? Continue the cultural attack with Fuzzbollah's song MARKET GALS GONE WILD!!!

Market Gals Gone Wild
Original Lyrics by Fuzzbollah
All Rights Reserved

A commissioner, name of Carol Scott
Thinks she’s hot, when she’s not
A tattooed lady with big hoo-boobs
She wants ‘em posted onto you tube

Ain’t gonna throw you no beads
It’s Ann Arbor, not New Orleans
You want to show us your bra
Get your ass on down to Mardi Gras

We’re fightin’ for market equality
For fair rules and diversity
We’re fightin’ corruption
And here you go havin’ a boob eruption

Intimidation and threat
Its how you got what you get
Why don’t you point out the lies
Like the guy who thaws and bakes those apple pies

Market gals gone wild!! Market gals gone wild!!
You know the world don’t smile, on market gals gone wild!!

Workin’ hard to defeat
That bunch of vendors who cheat
Commissioner Scott you’re a fool
For letting some vendors break the rules

It really looks absurd
When you’re flipping your bird
Take your finger and park it
In the dark side of the Farmers Market

Its gotta be for the best
That you cover your breasts
It would only be right
To keep those twins out of sight

You give Ann Arbor a scare
When you show ‘em your pair
I guess it should be spoken
For this I got my camera broken

Market gals gone wild!! Market gals gone wild!!
You know the world don’t smile, on market gals gone wild!!

Sloppy Cover Up Job Lyrics

2008-02-19T20:03:00.001-05:00

Corruption is where
You might not look
In ann arbor city
It took it took
Down at the market
Its run by a mob
Backed by the city
With its sloppy cover up job

The rules they say
We must obey
Do not exist
Wouldn’t matter anyway
They let them cheat
Help scare others away
To protect their dollars
And keep local farmers away

Did jest and his cronies
Put in a fix
Lay another phony trail
To defend more than lies
They got caught with their pants down
And although not a crime
They keep the truth from the public
To save their white little behind

Like before with sexual harassment
They didn’t follow the rules
Got hit with a lawsuit
Some call them fools
Both D and D
Two learned men
Said when the city speaks
Don’t believe what is said.

-Chorus

The assaults and lies
You throw our way
All been used
In the civil rights days
We’ll hang our hats
On equal access for all
Equal rights and treatment
Is all of our call

Her name is jack
Blacks the color of her soul
Did she sell lies to the cops?
Maybe more she has told?
She told many a vendor
It’s for the benefits
So consults with the attorney
To do what he bids

The two before her
Ganese and Gustene
Took cash from the mob
And gave them the keys
The city found out
Did nothing at all
Yet gave them bonuses
And we were taxed to the wall

Belle was a commissioner
When the vendor said
I buy pre made frozen baked goods
Bake them and then
Sell them at the market
The commission said “no”
“If I sprinkle the sugar
Are they good to go’?

The cash kept coming
No investigation was done
Its part of the record
The threats with a gun
Those courage’s few
Who stood up to the mob
Got harassed by a committee
To have them
Thrown from their jobs

I was there when the vendor
Said to gustene
“Why do you let them take ten stalls
That’s not what the rules mean”
She said” you’re a communist”
And what was strange about that
She was a long time
Union democrat

They made up a story
About a fruit man
He was thrown away
By their scheming hand
When the truth came out
From the experts mouth
The fruit man came back
No apology would follow

Corruption is where
You might not look
In ann arbor city
It took it took
Down at the market
Its run by a mob
Backed by the city
With its sloppy cover up job

Words and music by deep green all rights reserved

Key to players in Sloppy Cover Up Job

Belle---adelle ponvert

Jack---jessica (black)

Jest—bob west city attorney

Attorney---kevin macdonald

Genese—louise (wireman)

Gustene --maxine (rosasco)

Vendor baked goods—robertello

Vendor asked---phyllis ponvert

Fruit man erie orchards

Carol Vena and Denise Brock - Vendors from Hell, or just Belleville?

2008-02-05T08:46:00.001-05:00

The image in the screen capture shows that 2 vendors at the Ann Arbor Public Market, Carol Vena and Denise Brock, each holding 3 stalls, operate as a single business entity at the Northville Farmers Market. Is it fair to other vendors in the Ann Arbor market that these two are allowed to operate as two separate business entities? What is going on here? Does the management of the Ann Arbor market not realize that this prevents other vendors from gaining seniority and a stall space on the highly coveted "main aisle"?

This unfair monopolization of scarce public space has been formally complained about numerous times. Market manager Jessica Black was informed about this, former market managers Louise Wireman and Maxine Rosasco were also aware of this, but all chose to do nothing, even though this practice violated Market Operating Rules.

What is even more galling is that vendors Carol Vena, Denise Brock, Delores Gracia, Tina Koski, and T. Gracia all use the same greenhouses in Belleville, MI. This family unit is allowed to take 16 stalls at the Ann Arbor market!! With only 144 stalls in total at the Ann Arbor market, thats over 10% of the stalls being controlled by one family? Is this a Market Mafia or what?

This practice also prevents the needed diversity of the marketplace, prevents competition, prevents Ann Arbor consumers from making choices, prevents new vendors from gaining a foothold, prevents innovation, and prevents others from making a decent living. This is unfair, and should be changed. Ann Arbor consumers should complain to the new Public Market Commission and City Council to get them to discontinue small groups from monopolizing our public spaces.

Recent Rumblings Rock A2 MarketWatch

2008-01-23T19:51:00.000-05:00

OK, so I, the great FUZZBOLLAH, was on hiatus for a few months, watching with glee as the local blog site http://arborupdate.com had a rather long thread pertaining to the Ann Arbor Public Market, entitled "Growing Pains at the Farmers Market". Well, last week, Arborupdate webmeister Bruce Fields pulled the plug on this thread, claiming that 2/3 of the postings were from one person. Oh BOY oh boy. See for yourselves what this thread had to offer: http://arborupdate.com/article/1533/growing-pains-at-the-farmers-market

Although you will see a few snarky posts from yours truly, it certainly wasn't me who made 2/3 of the posts. See what happens when all other avenues for free speech and redress of grievances get shut down? People start resorting to harsher measures. Maybe the excessive posting was done by one of the disgruntled vendors whose issues have been glossed over by a negligent city staff, who constantly make excuses for the monopolizing of the market by a few other "privileged" vendors.

The other item of note for ArborMarketWatchers is an article that appeared in the January, 2008 issue of the Ann Arbor Observer, written by Vivienne Armentrout. The article is all about the importance some Ann Arborites place on LOCAL FOODS. Local foodies - in the article referred to as Locavores - "stress the importance of getting to know the individual farmers and buying from them steadily." I couldn't agree more, Locavores.

Armentrout also points out that buying at the Ann Arbor Public Market takes commitment, as the market is only open on Wednesdays and Saturdays, shuts by 3 pm, has difficult parking, prices are too high, and there are controversies about some of the vendors not growing the produce they sell, or making the goods themselves - as required by Market Operating Rules.

It might be useful to critique each of these issues that were raised, but now that arborupdate has closed their forum on the market, what's a lonely Fuzzbollah to do? Why don't you add in your 2 cents? Comments anyone?

Fiends - er - I mean "Friends of the Market" What is this group??

2007-08-08T16:08:00.001-04:00

Apparently run entirely by local cretin Glenn Thompson, Fiends of the Market is a front group for opposing anything the now former Market Commission tried to highlight and correct. Glenn, the chief Fiend, showed up at nearly every Market Commission meeting, and railed against any action the Commission took which went against his own inflated ego. Thompson has apparently made a career out of showing up at various Ann Arbor City Commissions and Council meetings, practically harassing public officials, and mostly spewing vile rhetoric. Personally, I like to call him The Glenn Thompson Show. Whenever I have tried to engage him in intelligent conversation, he gets that "gone postal" look in his eyes, really creepy.

Thompson's latest actions threaten local organic farmers. He is insisting that in order to advertise as "organically grown", or "organic" at the Ann Arbor Farmers Market, one must be "certified" by the USDA. He wants this inserted into the rules governing the market. This bogus certification is a piece of paper which proves NOTHING. More on Organics and bogus USDA certifications in another post.

Glenn has a blog with the high-fallutin' title of "The Arbor Market", claiming its a site run by the so-called "Friends of the Market", but don't be fooled, its all Glenn's show. On the site, Glenn plays editor, and censors any post which questions his all-knowing authority. Fuzzbollah thinks, "What an asswipe."

Its idiots like Glenn Thompson that scare good people away from public service.

Sloppy Cover Up Job

2007-08-06T09:48:00.000-04:00

Of course, you must see...

THIS: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3434097949481344704

It may help you to understand some of the controversy. Names were changed to expose the guilty. Let Arbor Market Watch know what you think!!

Now located on youtube too!!
HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ajv4FGWHtvo

What is this Blog about ??

2007-08-04T15:09:00.000-04:00

Well, its about trying to set the record straight. Its about exposing the dirty underside of the Ann Arbor Farmers Market, and giving it a good spanking. Its about overturning rocks and seeing what kind of vermin hide there, and bringing it to the light of day. Its about saying what some taxpayers and citizens of the City of Ann Arbor really think about what goes on at the Farmers Market - behind the scenes. We will expose those who DO NOT GROW THEIR OWN PRODUCE and other items which they sell at the market that THEY DO NOT MAKE THEMSELVES!!!

JOIN US in making the Ann Arbor Farmers Market -
now the PUBLIC MARKET -
a better place for all of us to buy our produce.