The board seems to be comprised only of agricultural vendors and one token nonag individual with no voting power. As long as the board sees fit, the booth of any nonag vendor – craftsmen, bakers, artists – can be given indiscriminately to any farmer any time without any consideration of seniority or popularity, thus protecting their interests to the disadvantage of those selling flowers, pots, aprons, honey and jewelry.

The market appears to be run by a few successful farmers who give themselves the prime locations and whose fees for a booth are lower than those for nonag sellers. No nonag vendor is allowed to carry any product that will compete. Thus one of our favorite coffee sellers could be removed if a farmer decides to sell coffee.

Are these policies the reason for empty booths that otherwise could be filled with a wide variety of desirable local crafts and/or even masseurs or knife-sharpeners, which certainly are not agricultural but which are much appreciated?

Most of us come to the market to buy produce, but even more important to us is the chance to have a cup of coffee or fresh lemonade and doughnut (nonag products) and to sit and chat with friends and neighbors with talented local musicians playing in the background. We also enjoy and are attracted by the variety of products, not only lettuce and tomatoes.

The bias toward farmers is extreme. In a town like Durango, there should be a wide range of vendors and offerings so that we will continue to come to the market first for social advantages, then to have varied choices that will bring us back week after week.

Penny Philport

Bayfield