Just me
 

Some times intuition is the best policy!!!!

I would bet most of us living in TV ate enough dirt and chewed on enough grocery cart handles to build our immune system's to endure a whole lot more than we think. I love open air markets and don't think twice about buying from them.

Take a close look at the Winn Dixie cake display case...there must me a hundred dead flies under the grate those cakes sit on.

Any real bakery I have ever been to had things out on shelves. Never thought of this as a health hazard. You all need to loosen up. There are a lot of things that skeeve me (jello, oreos, cheap hot dogs, etc...)this is not one of them.

Y'know what, if this grosses you out, don't go, don't buy it, don't eat it. Is it really neccesary to make insulting comments about the vendors?

I waitressed my way through school, worked in some nice places, you don't want to know what goes on.

I thought the same thing. The bread looked great but then I saw flies on it. Took a pass.

Being from California, we had so many fresh produce market stands, along the highways and everywhere. You just learn to wash everything well. Tried the Fresh Market here on 466, that was a treat, but prices so high! Wondering if spring and summer will bring more to choose from?

my thoughts run the same way as trish and gomoho post. anyone who thinks that the handlebar on a grocery cart is sanitary is deluding themselves; as well as anyone who believes that the fresh produce has not been touched by unclean hands! and i recall my friend opening her plastic bakery box from a local grocery - only to find a live roach within; and a roach once crawled out from a box of foil wrap i had brought home. germs and critters are everywhere - take the necessary precautions and enjoy the benefits of fresh rather than warehouse.

This is where the marketplace of free enterprise will take care of the problem. If the consumers think the product is gross and germ-ridden, they won't buy it. Before long, the vendor won't be able to keep selling like that.

In supermarkets etc., long french and cuban breads are in open-ended paper sacks. That's not all sealed up and doesn't seem to be germ infested nor undesirable to buy.

Remember the old idiom "You eat a peck of dirt before you die!? Well I ate a lifetime full by the time I finished playing football in high school; always at the end of the pack whenever we were told to do a lap, and I had the priviledge of eating every body elses dirt!

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@Phanatic Luvr
 

Mea culpa. You are quite right right. I was wrong in mentioning that I thought it was a Marion County Health Inspector. It would be indeed be a Sumter County Health Inspector. The manager only stated that he was personal friends with the county health inspector and that everything was all right. He never stated which county. It was my assumption and for that I am wrong.

My Mother used to say, "Some people aren't happy unless they are unhappy." She also used to often say, "Don't worry there will always be someone around to stir the pot."

She was wise beyond her years. I miss her and her wisdom.

I guess if you find this to be not to your liking you could just keep walking.

Happy New Year to everyone.

Xavier

jinieman: the reason such a difference between cabbage at Brownwood vis a vis Publix is because at farmers markets don't sell vegatables by thr pound.

The bakery stand will lose business just based on aesthics physcological barrier. We prefer locating a stand along the highway and developing a trust relationship with the owner.

Most roadway stands leave us flat. We had great farmers markets in upstate (central NY) owing to many truck farmers.

Mea Culpa
 

When I spoke to the manager, Jerry Underwood, he never stated that he was personal friends with the health inspector from Marion County. He stated he was personal friends with the health inspector from Wildwood. I was wrong in my assumption that the farmers Market fell under the Marion County's health codes. Hence, the mea culpa. The Brownswood Farmer's Market falls under the jurisdiction of the Sumter County health inspector.

What everyone fails to understand is that there are basic health codes that are law and must be abided by everyone and are being overlooked by a few select individuals. A farmers market is no exception. We are not talking restauraunt codes, but basic sanitary codes. The fact that you may not feel the need for them is not germane. Should it be optional for a restauranut worker or health care provider wash their hands after going to the restroom? There are codes for a reason.

However, if you wish to support a venue that is not looking after your health and well being by following health codes mandated by law, then more power to you.

Villageshooter: Thank you for the heads up. Perhaps many of the vendors monitor TOTV which would benefit us all. I mean silence signifies acceptance and leads to mediocrity and medicority to many unhappy people.

Yes, I love the Brownwood Farmer's Market and I am so thrilled that it exists! It makes me think that maybe TV is the right place for me. Now if only we could get a great health store and some gourmet non-chain restaurants!