S.D. (KOTA) – The Black Hills Producers Market launched this weekend following a public split from the Black Hills Farmers Market
Organizers said the new market was formed after a dispute centered on Black Hills Mushrooms, a vendor whose role at the Farmers Market became a flashpoint.
Producers said tensions grew over vendor policies and decisions about who could sell and what they were allowed to bring to market.
Black Hills Farmers Market board president Heather Maude confirmed contact with Black Hills Mushrooms but did not disclose the details of their discussion.
“The board did set up a meeting to review that communication, and upon determining that the communication was in violation of our bylaws, our code of conduct, and our communication policy. As a board we are then required to come up with a penalty for that,” Maude said.
Some growers said the rules were inconsistent and unfair, and that their concerns were not being heard.
A group of vendors broke away from the Farmers Market umbrella and formed the Black Hills Producers Market as a separate, vendor-led organization.
They said their goal is more transparency, clearer rules and a focus on locally grown and locally made products.
Alan Carner, founder of Black Hills Producers, said he received a letter banning him from selling at the Black Hills Farmers Market. Carner said he sent a formal appeal requesting an explanation and has not received a response.
“They sent me a letter stating that I was not allowed to sell products at that Black Hills farmers market, and I sent in a formal appeal to that letter requesting the reasons why I was not allowed to go, or what violations did I actually occur or do, and what time, and I did not receive any response, they just said I violated their code of conduct,” Carner said.
Both sides said they are focused on serving the community.
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