HAYLEY LERCH
News Assistant
A Sunday afternoon stroll through aisles of fresh produce and colorful jewelry may seem harmless to some visitors, but many community members are beginning to re-examine the benefits and disadvantages of the summertime Malibu farmers’ market.
Local business owners, farmers, politicians and some vendors are examining possible changes in the organization and management of the market.
Debate about the future of the market comes after questions about whether the farmers involved are certified.
“There’s been some dispute about whether they’re actually farmers” said Reneika Brooks-McClain, of the Malibu planning commission. According to Mayor Pro Tem Ken Kearsley, a recent city council ordinance stipulates that the farmers’ market must now have at least 65 percent certified farmers to operate legally.
Kearsley has expressed his concern about the certification of farmers because of the market’s impact on local businesses.
“As a city we have to protect the retail stores that sell produce” Kearsley said.
The Malibu farmers’ market is organized by the non-profit Cornucopia Foundation, which was founded by Debra Bianco in 1998. It typically operates on Sundays from April to October. According to Brooks-McClain, vendors sell produce, clothing, accessories, candles and jewelry.
There has been some concern about the Malibu farmers’ market beginning to resemble a flea market as it continues to expand its array of merchandise.
“I believe in rural Malibu. I don’t believe that a farmers’ market is for people to buy toe-rings” Kearsley said.
Alan G. Cunningham, a local Malibu farmer, echoes Kearsley’s notion that the farmers’ market may be becoming less about the farmers and more about the arts and crafts. “If Cornucopia is going to have a farmers’ market, I wish they’d have a legitimate farmers’ market,” Cunningham said.
Bianco said the diversity of offerings is what makes the market beneficial to the community. “There’s a not a whole lot to do in Malibu, so even young people on a Sunday are not gonna buy the fruits and veggies, but they get really cool clothing, jewelry, grab a bite to eat,” Bianco said. “Therefore, there is something for everybody.”
Not only has there been discussion about the merchandise, but there have also been concerns about the management. Former vendor Kasim Afsor of Musti Designs, and maker of handmade jewelry, would like to see Bianco replaced by a new management crew.
Cunningham said he would like to see management that shows more respect to farmers. “We have a community were there are such strong polarities,” Cunningham said. “We have some real farmers and then we have the Malibu city nouveau-riche debutantes with the Malibu Colony point of view.”
After Monday’s city council meeting, the planning commission now has to decide whether the Cornucopia Foundation should receive a conditional use permit, or CUP. If obtained, the permit will allow the foundation to run the farmers’ market once again this spring.
Depending upon the decision by the planning commission, the Malibu farmer’s market may or may not operate this year under the Cornucopia Foundation.
According to Kearsley, there may be others applying for the permit to run a farmer’s market in Malibu.
Either way, the future of the Malibu farmer’s market is up for discussion and is still unclear.
01-26-2006
