Whole Foods to Host Farmer's Markets?

[kellypope]

So what's going on here, eh? Every other Sunday, at some point in the near future, there'll be a farmer's market in Mandarin?

Someone help me out (I'm very far away until mid-May) and go see what's up.

And not to be a sourpuss, but does anyone else feel the tension between Native Sun and Whole Paycheck? I'd much rather go to Native Sun that Whole Foods, but it's nice to see them utilizing their bit of paved paradise.

[thekillingwax]

So is it just them wheeling their goods into the parking lot for a few hours? I don't know. I go to the farmers' market for dirt cheap goods as I don't really care about organic. Seems pretty strange to me.

The Native Sun over on Baymeadows was pretty busy last weekend, I've driven past WF a couple of afternoons and it has looked pretty dead but it was buzzing Sunday.

[never.emily]

According to the  Whole Foods website (http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/jacksonville/storecalendar.php): 

Join us for our first ever Farmers Market to meet local vendors, farmers and producers to discover fresh delicious products from your own backyard.  The Farmers Market will take place in the parking lot of our store.

Not sure how they define "local," but I'll be checking it out once they finalize the dates.  It's way closer to me than the Beaver St. Farmer's Market.

[stjr]

I don't get it.  Whole Foods sells produce.  It seems like they are inviting competition to themselves.  Why would they do this?

Unless they get a cut of the action or rig it some other way to protect what they sell inside.  In which case, I don't see the prices being competitive with a real farmers market like the one on Beaver Street.  It will be interesting to see what they do.

[never.emily]

But is it really competition?  A few stalls in the parking lot twice a month?  I'm thinking it's publicity and a way to draw shoppers in to the store and distinctive one-up on Native Sun. I really doubt Whole Foods will lose money on this.

[kellypope]

Good points, never.emily. Plus, think of the things that don't grow in our zone, or that are out-of-season but which people don't care if it has to come from Australia to get to us. Ever notice the table of oranges as soon as you walk in, which, despite being in season, come from California? Guaranteed there's a tree with fruit in a public space you can freely pick from, within three blocks.

Native Sun's blog was recently updated with a mention of their being rated the best something or other...by Whole Foods. Irony, much? Or just a leechy corporate tactic?