Farmers’ market irks Main Street

By TOM KANE

HORTONVILLE — A merchant with a new store on Callicoon’s Main Street has complained to the Delaware Town Board that some vendors at the Sunday Farmers’ market are selling wares and not agricultural products.

“Some of the vendors are selling jewelry, T-shirts and other items that we are selling in the stores on Main Street,” said Michelle Weiss, owner of the new store La Shed Du Fred. “We have a small window of opportunity during the summer months to make a profit. We have overhead, capital improvements and inventory that they don’t have.”

Her opinion was seconded by other business owners who attended the meeting last Wednesday, August 21.

“If the vendors are not abiding by their contract, they shouldn’t get away with it,” said Delaware Supervisor Bill Moran, with the unanimous support of the town board.

The board could not decide whether to remove the booths at once or to wait and not give the vendor a permit next year.

“I am entirely supportive of the farmers at the market,” Weiss said. “I think it’s a very good thing to support them. I also am a strong supporter of the Callicoon [Creek] Park as well.”

Arts and crafts merchants have always been a part of all the farmers’ markets, said Trina Pilonero, president of the Sullivan County Area Farmers’ Markets, Inc.

“We have always limited non-produce merchandise,” Pilonero said, but traditionally, artisans selling pottery, and other items made in farm kitchens, have had a place in the markets. These non-farm vendors help attract crowds into the town who otherwise would not come, she said.

Currently, the Callicoon market has attracted between 400 to 600 people, according to Penni Buchal of the Sullivan County Cooperative Extension.

Moran said the contracts of the vendors will be reviewed. “It’s looking more like a flea market,” Moran said. “We never intended the market to be in competition with the hamlet’s businesses.”