Farmer's Market Update

Hi everyone -
Last week I sent out an email stating that we were not accepted into the Leesburg Farmer's Market for the Spring/Summer Season.  Thank you ALL who emailed me supporting us as we are and believing in us.  Those who know me and talk to me realize I am just not a very political person - we do what we do, follow the rules and such and really just enjoy what we do at the end of the day.
I wrote an email to the board of the Loudoun Valley Homegrown Market Association asking WHY we were not allowed back in the market after being in it for the last 3 years - how come we were all of a sudden "not in compliance" - especially since we have the paperwork to show that we followed their rules and regulations. Our farm has been inspected 4+ times over the last couple of years and pictures were even taken of our property.
Their response is to give me my time at their next board meeting, which is this Wednesday at 7pm, to show paperwork and to dispute this action.  I am going to go and speak - not only for myself but for other farmer's which this might be happening to.  The goal stated by the LVHMA is to support LOCAL farmers - pretty straight forward.  Yet as I look at the list of vendors for the markets - I see more vendors who live outside Loudoun County.  I have no problems with what these people bring in - I frequently buy from them myself!!  However, seeing a decline in the agriculture in Loudoun, I see the exclusion of ANY Loudoun County Farmer who meets the requirements as something that needs to be addressed.  There is more than enough business to go around and the people who are shopping these markets are LOOKING for LOCAL.
Joe wanted me to ask for you to come out to support me - but honestly though I would love the company I am not going to ask that.  I will however ask that if you have something on your mind that you would like to WRITE to the LVHMA board - please feel free to email me and I will print out each and everyone of the emails to take in.
As I write this I am unsure that I will join the market even if they allow me back in.  I have taken this personally as we have worked so hard over these last few years to make this farm work.  Never the less, the farm WILL be open on Saturdays throughout the season and we hope that you come out and visit us as much as you can!!
Thank you all once again for the support we have received over the last couple of weeks as this has been unfolding!  We honestly cannot do this without you!  3 years ago we were excited to have 50 people on our email list - now at nearly 600 - it's amazing!
Best wishes and thank you all!
The Sacco Family
http://www.chicamarun.com

date Monday, March 15, 2010
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If you think farmers are all fair....

THINK AGAIN!!  It's amazing to me how competitive farmers are.  Seriously - I think when we had the computer store people were less competitive, and that's a field where you expect competition.

When I think of farmers, I think of people helping each other out when they need it, talking to each other for ideas, and just old fashioned values.  Believe it or not, this is not true.

If I have an idea and start succeeding at it, someone will try to squash it or steal it.  Such as with the raw goat milk we were selling.  It was a GREAT idea - not a huge one.... we weren't becoming a dairy by any means.... but we were supplying a need.  Legally sold as "Raw Goat Milk NOT for human consumption" - VDACS inspected our label, saw how we sold it and completely agreed we were within the LAW to do this.  We were selling a WHOPPING $24 per week.  That's right - $24 per week..... and someone went and complained causing us to either A) risk our insurance and our farm or B) just stop offering this.  We went with option B - sad huh?  Now I have been told the same person who complained and raised a fuss is offering the milk (no sorry - I won't share a name because I can be petty as well).

As of this moment, we were not accepted at the summer market in Leesburg saying we are not in compliance with their rules of how long we keep animals on the property.  I have requested details into how we are not in compliance - the meat we have saved for the market meets all their criteria - so I am at a little bit of a loss.... I can PROVE all the meat is within their guidelines, yet they say we are not.

So I'm a little at a loss..... I will have to now work doubly to promote our farm to the public to get traffic here to meet the sales that we need to do, honestly, to live here.  We count on the market sales plain and simple.

I will now ask all our faithful followers to tell everyone about us out here!!  Be on the look out for new promotions and new ideas coming forth.  Right now I think my brain just hurts :)

date Sunday, March 7, 2010
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The Season Starts

Plants are started in the basement, baby chicks are ordered..... and the schedule starts picking up.  It's funny how with all the snow still on the ground and now more is expected that we are expecting baby chicks and my basement has grow lights because tomatoes need to be started now.

It's honestly hard to think about warmer weather right now with snow predicted and since we are STILL unable to get to the back fields - even with a 4WD.

date Monday, March 1, 2010
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