Brixton Market going all posh on Sundays

[toggle]

I thought we were talking about Brixton

Did you actually read my comments:

like this one.

i take real exception to anyone saying that all farmers markets sell is overpriced substandard tat though. I know some do, ballham is a pretty good example of that. but others can be bloody good and give loads of good seasonal veg, that's cheap, dosen't rot within 2 days and actually has flvour, at less than the supermarkets charge for shite veg.

Then i don't think you were refering to brixton when doing your usual slagging off against all farmers markets, were you.

 

[netbob]

Not even sure its a farmers market - I only said that by way of example. Its just a posh-food market.

 

[newbie]

Then i don't think you were refering to brixton when doing your usual slagging off against all farmers markets, were you.

well I think they're a bit of a joke, if that's what you mean. Primarily because they're not really markets- you know, where there's real choice & competition.

 

[pooka]

Why don't farmers send their employees to run stalls in ordinary markets?

There are many places outside London where they do...and in markets that would put Brixton to shame.

 

[toggle]

well I think they're a bit of a joke, if that's what you mean. Primarily because they're not really markets- you know, where there's real choice & competition.

I'm happy getting cheap, good quality produce, if you can't stand the thought of that, then don't shop there.

And markets offering real competition? Not when most of the time you get every fruit anf veg seller selling almost exactly the same stuff at exactly the same prices. i love having a choice of which stall to get my 3lb of overripe bananas for a paaaaannd

 

[newbie]

Have you ever been to Brixton market? The choice is far, far greater than you'll get at any wee 'market' with a couple of stalls aiming at sunday supplement readers. If you want higher quality/higher price fruit n veg you just have to look. Or does your farmers market sell bananas that are somehow worthier than in the sort of market poor people use?

 

[toggle]

Have you ever been to Brixton market? The choice is far, far greater than you'll get at any wee 'market' with a couple of stalls aiming at sunday supplement readers. If you want higher quality/higher price fruit n veg you just have to look. Or does your farmers market sell bananas that are somehow worthier than in the sort of market poor people use?

I guess you're running out of reasons why i shouldn't get cheap local produce at a farmers market and moving on to spout utter shite.

And isn't that a complaint others have made about brixton market these days, that many of the stall are selling the same stuff? or did you fail to read that as well in your hurry to put forth a whinge about the evils of farmers markets?

 

[newbie]

Have you ever been there, done your shopping there? I can make plenty of criticisms, but they're based on shopping there two or three times a week, not reading about it on the internet.

And... since when did bananas count as local, or indeed any of the stuff sold at inner London markets. As for cheap- you're the one complaining that what's available in Brixton is too cheap.

 

[toggle]

Have you ever been there, done your shopping there? I can make plenty of criticisms, but they're based on shopping there two or three times a week, not reading about it on the internet.

and do you visit farmers markets regularly and do your shopping there? or are you just talking out of your arse about what you think they sell, rather than what is actually there. because your description bears absolutely no relationshoip at all with where i shop.

And... since when did bananas count as local, or indeed any of the stuff sold at inner London markets. As for cheap- you're the one complaining that what's available in Brixton is too cheap.

did i say bananas were local?

please provide the quote where i've said bananas are local produce.


Then tell me why i shouldn't get cheap local produce from a farmers market

 

[newbie]

Right, so you've never shopped in Brixton market, your jibe about "i love having a choice of which stall to get my 3lb of overripe bananas for a paaaaannd" was simple prejudice and you didn't intend to imply that your 'farmers' 'market' sells you higher quality "cheap local" bananas.

Where do you buy bananas, btw? Not that I really care, you buy your food where you like, but you've made it pretty clear that the ordinary market doesn't meet your exacting standards. Maybe the posh market on sundays will be just right for you.

 

[kyser_soze]

Sorry, but since when did farmer's markets suddenly become symbols of gentrification or 'poshness'? Does this mark them down as some kind of Hoxtonite retro-trend ('Yah Davey - my farmer is just SO adorable, with his little ruddy cheeks,muddy hands and obscenely shaped by Oh-so-precious veg') or is it simply because the whole notion of not buying from supermarkets is perceived (incorrectly) as being some kind of middle-class trend?

Fucking eejits...

 

[toggle]

Right, so you've never shopped in Brixton market,

you might want to show me where i've said that as well.

or do you just intend to continue spouting utter shite.

 

[newbie]

They're clearly a symbol of something, some separateness, otherwise they'd be part of the ordinary market, not setting themselves up in opposition to it.

 

[toggle]

They're clearly a symbol of something, some separateness, otherwise they'd be part of the ordinary market, not setting themselves up in opposition to it.

a symbol of what?

 

[newbie]

You tell me. I've asked repeatedly why they're separate, why they don't mix in with the normal London streetmarkets. It's them, and their customers, who maintain that separateness, it clearly symbolises something to them.

 

[toggle]

You tell me. I've asked repeatedly why they're separate, why they don't mix in with the normal London streetmarkets. It's them, and their customers, who maintain that separateness, it clearly symbolises something to them.

why don't you ask them.

what they mean to me, is what I buy at them. Good, cheap local produce. Simple as.

YOu are the one that seems to be trying to turn this into a them and us situation, whether because of some form of protectionism for your normal london market, who in your eyes, are too crap to survive the competition from farmers markets, or because of some percieved differences in who you think shop at the farmers markets. perhaps it is only middle class people who can appreciate good food and go buy it from the farmers market.

 

[kyser_soze]

Possibly because they can't get pitches at other local markets? Does it really actually matter to anyone other than newbie?

 

[toggle]

Possibly because they can't get pitches at other local markets? Does it really actually matter to anyone other than newbie?

i don't think so.

This isn't the first time he's shown this prejudice against farmers markets and has had little explanation for why, other than his opinion that they are crap.

 

[newbie]

perhaps it is only middle class people who can appreciate good food and go buy it from the farmers market.

is that the symbolism in your mind? You've suggested- without any evidence other that what you've read on the internet- that the produce in Brixton market is "exactly the same stuff at exactly the same prices", that farmers markets sell local produce, against all the evidence, and now this.

The symbolism is there. Call it poshness or gentrification or sunday supplementism or simple snobbery, it's unmistakeably there. And you're evangelising that we need this in Brixton.

 

[kyser_soze]

You're talking absolute shite quite frankly newbie - there are more pressing issues facing Brixton then whether or not farmer's market's represent 'gentrification' (which is strange, cos historically it was shopping in permanent buildings that traditioanally meant gentrification...) or not...

 

[newbie]

There are plenty of pressing issues, so what? If it's alright with you I'll discuss the topic of this thread.

Oh, and btw, there are pitches on offer in Brixton market.

 

[toggle]

There are plenty of pressing issues, so what? If it's alright with you I'll discuss the topic of this thread.

You will now that it's apparent you don't have a leg to stand on.

 

[Mrs Magpie]

I agree, the quality of the the majority of produce on the market is lamentable.

A lot of the market traders aren't too happy with the stuff that's available to them either...they blame the supermarkets for hiving off what they used to be able to buy......

 

[netbob]

A lot of the market traders aren't too happy with the stuff that's available to them either...they blame the supermarkets for hiving off what they used to be able to buy......

Yep, theyve been screwed over - there was an interview in one of the broadsheets a few months back with a guy whoed run a veg stall out off new covent garden all his life. CG/NCG used to get the best veg there was, but now the super markets pinch it all.

 

[Mrs Magpie]

There are some kinds of veg they can hardly ever get these days.....mushrooms for instance. Supermarkets quite often get growers into 'exclusive contracts'
eta by 'they' I mean market traders.

 

[Techonelectric]

Hi everyone

I'm the operator who started the market on sundays.

Hope I can clear up a few points.

I am doing this for various reasons not least of all money. I have lived on the Avenue for 10 years now and I've also managed a French market for 3 Years.
Electric Avenue was and is a very big risk for me and the traders whom I have recruited. We had 8 stalls this week and I really hope it will grow. The stalls were, Dark Sugars the cake stall who operates in Borough and several other London markets, Flowerpowercity a mainly organic baker also operating in Borough and other markets. There are 3 French produce stalls - Saucisson, Pates, Jams and honeys. Two arts and crafts stalls were also out.

I am actively trying to recruit quality stalls localy. If any of you out there run a stall and would like a pitch please get in touch.

Brixton in my opinion doesn't have much in the way of family entertainment on Sunday and shopping can be quite restricted. I hope the Sunday market can do something to improve this for all.

I'd be interested to hear what stalls readers on the forum would like to see in the market on Sundays.

Thanks and hope this helps.

 

[tarannau]

Ah well, I'll be wishing you luck anyway. I'd agree that there's space for a Sunday market in Brixton and any reservations I have are simply based around the lack of crossover between the two. Saturday's main market could do with the input of some higher quality stalls for variety, whilst I'm not sure that Sunday's line-up has sufficient depth to encourage me to make a special visit. It seems strange to have such a divide between the two - hinting at a degree of truth in Newbie's viewpoint. I'd rather have more of a varied blend, including some fresh fruit and veg on a Sunday.

However, that's far from your intention I suspect - asking for input from others and locally's a positive step - and neither can you be expected to change the line-ups and licensing overnight. Good luck again.

 

[Crispy]

I was on electric avenue on sunday to do fruit & veg shopping at Evergreen and I passed the stalls. They all seemed to be selling fancy specialist stuff - I didn't stop to check. Looked like little pots of honey, that sort of thing. I can't say I'd make the effort to go especially for those sorts of things. I'll take a closer look next time. Things I'm willing spend over the oddds on are cheese and um.... actually I think it's just cheese.

 

[newbie]

Hi

why Sunday? I see your point about a lack of 'family entertainment' on sundays, and recognise some truth in it... although... call me old fashioned but ... shopping? Anyway, moving on...

Why sunday, why separate from the main market? if sunday, why in Brixton which has no traditional sunday market, why not East Street? What is it about your vision and your stalls that needs a separate clientelle?

 

[William of Walworth]

A lot of the market traders aren't too happy with the stuff that's available to them either...they blame the supermarkets for hiving off what they used to be able to buy......

The East Street traders (and, at times, customers!) are none too happy about that either

Mind you, being a 5 day a week-'working', yet simultaneouly lazy, git, whose spare time is often spent in pubs or in bed, , I'm a fair bit of the problem sometimes ...