Brownwood Farmer's Market - Food Handling
 

]Was at the Farmers market on Saturday at Brownwood, was wonderful looking stand with baked goods on it,, problem is NONE of them were covered at all, no sneeze guard! there was a customer that had a cigerette in his hand and was paying for his items, was waving his hand with the cig in it over these uncovered baked goods. Was open season for people to cough or sneeze on the baked goods... Is a HUGE health department issue! This was only stand that had it this way... I made mention to the guy behind the counter,, he just shrugged his shoulders.... if he did not care this much at his stand,, how much care does he give when he makes the treats??? guy in the pic is guy that shrugged his shoulders. i was standing on the side of the table where customer had cig

[IMG]https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...over-items.jpg

I spoke to the manager on the phone about the health code violations and I was told that he knows the Wildwood health inspector and so it is OK. I am assuming he meant the Marion County health inspector. They are also selling beef from coolers in one stall. There is no way you can keep the product at the recommended temp for any length of time when you are opening and closing the cooler. By the way, the manager, Jerry Underwood, is a Villager.

I am VERY careful when I purchase at a farmers market,,, you never know what has been sprayed on the produce,, they dont have to follow USDA regs,,,, as far as being clean, i always look to see if there stand is neat, they have taken a bath in the last week... at some farmers markets the folks selling are real dirtbags,,, Saturday was a guy at a produce stand was smoking a cig while taking $$ selling produce.

Just curious ...
 

Dear Villavillager, What would a Marion County Health Inspector have anything to do with the Farmer's Market in Brownwood? Brownwood is Sumter County.

We asked for an open air market and we now have a great one at Brownwood. If that style of market bothers you, please use one of the regulated grocery stores for your products and leave the open air markets to those of us that appreciate what they do. It is my opinion that you are more likely to pick something up in your favorite deli than in an open air market.

I think Villageshooter was trying to be helpful with his posted comments. I feel that it is sometimes beneficial to hear more than one viewpoint on a new service or product.

I am sure you are right that Villageshooter was trying to be helpful; however, I am trying to be helpful as well. Open air markets do not and should not follow the same regulations of Grocery or specialty stores. If open air markets were then I fear we would not have any and I for one enjoy market style shopping. I, without proof, believe that the majority of food born illnesses are spawned in the warehouses and back rooms of commercial food sources and not by the farmer nor by grandma's kitchen. Keep in mind, that bacteria that ferments over days in stored food is more of the culprit than a bucket full of dirt. And good morning everyone on this last day of 2012.

I have to agree with Golfingnut. It is a farmers market and they have been that way for years. Worry about the big stuff and not the small stuff. FYI, That particular vendor is great and they have a great product.

I didn't buy from that stand because I thought the baked goods were very expensive and I bake.

I think that it looked no different than street markets around the world and I am still kickin'.

I didn't buy meat there. Just because, I don't know why.

Aw but the vegetables. Oh the vegetables were wonderful. My favorite stand had the whole family present with the little kids there too, several of them and they were fun to talk to as well.

But Villageshooter well could be right. Yes he could. I read what he said.

I will go back every Saturday and buy the vegetables and fruits too.

So glad it is there.

Living in So Jersey for many years there were farmers markets every few miles! Glad to have Brownwood Farmers Market close to home! Wash the veggies before eating. I wouldn't buy meat from a cooler. I think the stand selling breads and pastries is way overpriced for my pocketbook (I bake as well) but it is always crowded and everything does look good! I go to the market every Saturday...love it!

Great Market and social gathering, now that the word is out on this guy,vendor,he should see his sales go down and im sure he will be told he made it on the talk of the villages,and then he will clean up his act or be down the road...

So far everything I bought at the market went rotten in three days. That includes, tomatoes, peppers and eggplant. I'll not shop there again.

I saw a head of nappa cabbage there (the kind you use to make asian salad the one with the ramen noodles). It was priced at $2.00. Last week I bought one at Publix for $7.00 and the one at the farm market looked much better. I for one love the Brownwood farm market, but can understand the hygiene issues. It probably wouldn't hurt if they covered everything with saran wrap.

I agree it good to have the market. It's also good to have the different points of view. I only buy from the stands that I feel look "clean" but who knows how clean they really are? I spent a lot of time in India and all of the stalls in Brownwood look cleaner than the stands I bought from in India where they just spread out the wares on the road. Somehow I survived that so I expect I will survive Brownwood

Yes, the hygeine issues should be addressed, but don't stop going to market. Hopefully, like you said, maybe they will hear about this on Talk of The Villages, and clean up their act. I like the idea of "fresh" when purchasing fruits and veggies. This time of year, your not going to get too many local veggies etc, but in another 2 months things will be flourishing with local stuff. And when the local tomatoes start to come? Yummy!!! I haven't seen too many comments on prices??? (so I take it they are ok) Happy New Years Everyone