There has been some, what I call "Market Drama" or "MD" going on for the past week or so. And if you know me really well, drama and I don't go so well together. Thankfully, it's been avoiding us for the most part. Which is because we just have blueberries - not a whole ton of produce like corn, beans, lettuce, tomatoes, etc.
But today is a different story.
We picked 127 quarts of blueberries yesterday, fully anticipating we'd get rid of at least half of them today, so we were quite thrilled. Well, as we were setting up Kay, the lady who helps with organizing the days events, walks up to us to check in.
Now, Kay is a dealer, meaning she has a license to go to Syracuse and buy anything that's been shipped in from New Jersey, California, Georgia, Florida etc. and sell it at the Farmers Markets.
So anyways, she walks up and sees that we have blueberries, which she correctly assumes are more local than hers and that upsets Kay a little bit. She asks if they were ours and James said no, because they aren't we picked them at Stan's Berry Patch about 40 minutes away. She then states "You aren't suppose to have things you didn't grow yourself on your table if you don't have a dealing license".
But see, we knew that and had talked to the manager of the market, Nelli, and she said that it would be okay, since we did in fact have blueberry plants. Nelli also told us that it shouldn't be a problem, and if it is then have whomever come talk to her. So James sent Kay to talk to Nelli.
Still with me?
I was getting nervous at this point.. I don't deal with "breaking the rules" even if someone of authority says it's okay. I like there to be peace and at this point there wasn't peace, because we were breaking the rules.
I was thinking, how and where will we get rid of all the blueberries we picked?! This market is by FAR the best market we go to, no other market would allow for us to move that many berries.
So the manager, Nelli, comes by and says that it will be okay for us to sell what we have, but better not chance coming next week with blueberries that we didn't grow.
So, that's good right?
Well, that got James feeling guilty for (in a sense) stomping on ground that wasn't ours. Kay shouldn't have to compete with our blueberries, since we shouldn't technically have them at this market anyways. Plus, he didn't want her to be an enemy in case we ever do get really big with our own berries and she does get strawberries and it just wouldn't be a good idea to have to "compete" with her in the future. So..with that, he decides he won't sell any blueberries and apologize to her.
When James left to go talk to her I said a prayer that God would soften her heart and let us sell them since we had them or help James and I figure out a way to get rid of the berries we picked.
But today is a different story.
We picked 127 quarts of blueberries yesterday, fully anticipating we'd get rid of at least half of them today, so we were quite thrilled. Well, as we were setting up Kay, the lady who helps with organizing the days events, walks up to us to check in.
Now, Kay is a dealer, meaning she has a license to go to Syracuse and buy anything that's been shipped in from New Jersey, California, Georgia, Florida etc. and sell it at the Farmers Markets.
So anyways, she walks up and sees that we have blueberries, which she correctly assumes are more local than hers and that upsets Kay a little bit. She asks if they were ours and James said no, because they aren't we picked them at Stan's Berry Patch about 40 minutes away. She then states "You aren't suppose to have things you didn't grow yourself on your table if you don't have a dealing license".
But see, we knew that and had talked to the manager of the market, Nelli, and she said that it would be okay, since we did in fact have blueberry plants. Nelli also told us that it shouldn't be a problem, and if it is then have whomever come talk to her. So James sent Kay to talk to Nelli.
Still with me?
I was getting nervous at this point.. I don't deal with "breaking the rules" even if someone of authority says it's okay. I like there to be peace and at this point there wasn't peace, because we were breaking the rules.
I was thinking, how and where will we get rid of all the blueberries we picked?! This market is by FAR the best market we go to, no other market would allow for us to move that many berries.
So the manager, Nelli, comes by and says that it will be okay for us to sell what we have, but better not chance coming next week with blueberries that we didn't grow.
So, that's good right?
Well, that got James feeling guilty for (in a sense) stomping on ground that wasn't ours. Kay shouldn't have to compete with our blueberries, since we shouldn't technically have them at this market anyways. Plus, he didn't want her to be an enemy in case we ever do get really big with our own berries and she does get strawberries and it just wouldn't be a good idea to have to "compete" with her in the future. So..with that, he decides he won't sell any blueberries and apologize to her.
When James left to go talk to her I said a prayer that God would soften her heart and let us sell them since we had them or help James and I figure out a way to get rid of the berries we picked.
I was nervous, still, because well that would be A LOT of work to try and sell 127 quarts by phone call and well we just weren't sure what we'd do with them or how to move them.
WELL SURE ENOUGH, Kay said "Oh no, you've picked them for this market, because you were told you could, go ahead and sell them." and was very sincere about it. So Praise God.. wait not yet.. there is more.
..Yes, there is MORE...
So when we picked on Tuesday, we had figured we'd have blueberries for today's market, Thursday's day and night market, Friday night's and Saturday's market. 5 market we figured we'd cover with what we picked.
Guess what? We left there with only 20 quarts! Ha...can you believe that? So basically we have to not go to tomorrow's afternoon market and pick instead for tomorrow night's market, Friday's and Saturday's!
In short:
Not only did God allow for us to sell, He paved a way to SELL A LOT more than we anticipated! : )
It's just thrilling to know He's got a plan, even amongst the Market Drama!
And, let's see, do I have any pictures to share?
Ah.. YUP!
At Stan's Blueberry Patch on Tuesday
All Packed up and Ready to go!
A total of 12 flats fit in my trunk
(that's 96 quarts)
Plus additional quarts packed
in the sides and on top of flats!
