Nashville Farmers’ Market new policy takes effect

The new rules banning re-sold products at the Nashville Farmers’ Market took effect this weekend, leading to a mostly vacant market building once packed with produce stands.

Under the new guidelines, vendors must own their property or have a land lease. That means grocery-style resellers with a wide array of produce year-round are not allowed. Instead, the market’s board hopes more local farmers who grow their own food will fill the area.

But with spring just arriving, vegetables aren’t ready to be sold and just two vendors were in the produce market building on Sunday. One was Louise Nunley from McMinnville, who sold Farm Country Cheese that her son makes in Michigan.

Nunley said Easter likely took a bite out of the number of shoppers. About 30 feet away from Nunley’s stand, a vendor sold locally produced eggs.

“It was so busy (Saturday). We sold out quite a bit of stuff,” Nunley said. “Our cheese is so good, and we’ve been coming here for two years so people know us.”

The flower and garden area at the end of the market was full of plants and had more shoppers. Some, like Eileen Anderson, didn’t know about the new rules and were surprised to find the building empty.

“But this is a lovely selection of flowers,” Anderson said.

Nunley said her stand will have produce once vegetables are ripe, probably starting with green beans. She said the shift in policy will be a good thing later in the year when more local farmers are able to sell their fare.

“I’d guess there will be green beans in June probably first,” Nunley said. “Until then, I don’t really know what to expect.”

The Nashville Farmers’ Market board adopted the new policy to raise its standards for quality and to benefit local farmers and vendors.

Produce vendors must display signs showing where their food was grown. In addition to the new rules for produce vendors, artisans must offer products they made themselves.

Reach Nate Rau at 615-259-8094 and on Twitter @tnnaterau.