Freepers at the farmer’s market. My recent run-in w/ a Repug.

[Kang Colby]

So…last weekend I was visiting friends a few towns over. Their town has an indoor farmers market most weekends. Not much of anything this time of year produce wise – mainly homemade crafts. They did have a large selection of canned peaches, various jellies and jams, and fresh eggs.
Anyhow, after a nice lunch and catch-up, I suggested that we head over to the market. After looking around for about ½ an hour, the after lunch carb crash seemed to be catching up with this. Out of the four of us, me and my SO, and my buddy and his SO, I was the only one who had anything to buy. I found this neat looking belt buckle which I now plan to give as a belated holiday gift.

The folks working at this place all seemed to have eyes filled with pain and sorrow. This area has been impacted by the depression much more so than others. I didn’t need to buy that belt buckle, but I wanted to help out anyway I could. The mood in this town just sucked, businesses are boarded up, houses look vacated, Main St. is a ghost town. Very depressing. I deeply feel for folks in that area.

This indoor farmers market is in what looks to be an old warehouse, about the size of a grocery store. There were probably 30 or so display tables and maybe ten or so people actually shopping. Everyone else was working their display. The man I bought the belt buckle from said I was only the second sale he had all day.

Well, each vendor marks their items with a unique #. This market has a “check out” area for lack of a better term. After asking one of the vendors about why I couldn’t just pay the seller they explained that the place no longer charges the 20$ or 30$ for a display. Now a days the market owner just takes a cut directly. I wonder whose favor that works out in? /sarcasm

Well, I’m waiting in line and a lady dressed in a pea coat is in front of me. She steps up to an elderly man who is working the register and slams down two jars of preserves. She snaps, “can you tell me if these are organic, I forgot to ask?!” The elderly gentleman explains that she probably got those from “Bryant” and that Bryant “spray’s his produce”. The lady flips out. Starts cussing and demanding an explanation as to why the jars aren’t properly labeled. The elder gentleman looks like he is in absolute shock.

She goes on to explain that “chemical contaminants are for poor people, and she would not expose HER family to that filth”. She mentioned some incoherent nonsense about how the contents of the jar were only fit for the bums working there.

Here’s the kicker…the lady starts screaming about having one of her “friends” a local Republican delegate look into having the place shutdown.
At first, I thought maybe she was some sort of organic absolutist, but the part about having the market shutdown was the final straw.

That’s when I decided to chime in.

Kang Colby, “ Ma’am, I’m certainly no expert, but I don’t believe I ever learned anything about the way you’re acting in the bible.” “I’m not certain, but I don’t think Jesus would agree, what say you?”

She looked in disbelief that anyone would address her tantrum. She only groaned. And then began to leave the store.

I offered one more comment, “Ma’am, I remember your friend’s campaign ads, and he ran on “faith and family values”. But much like yourself and Bryant’s peaches – his policies have been toxic to this area”.

She walked out quickly…you could tell she was embarrassed.

Zing!