by Jeff Noedel
Sounder contributor
Steve Diepenbrock, president of the Orcas Island Farmers Market, told the Islands’ Sounder: “We stepped on a little hornet nest” regarding permissible booth content.
On Saturday, July 20, a disagreement developed over the scope and nature of activity of a table run by advocates in favor of recalling several Eastsound Water Users Association board members. Initially the RecallWater booth was approved by OIFM. Soon after the market opened, however, the approval was reversed.
He said the OIFM fully intends to add detail to its current policy on what defines an information booth, which they welcome, and what defines political activity. He said the Board of Directors plans to deliberate and clarify policy after the seasonal harvests. Diepenbrock – a farmer for three decades – believes now is not the moment to consider new policy for OIFM booths.
“I try not to ask much of the board members at this time of year because everybody feels so busy,” he said.
Diepenbrock said the controversy, which hit a boiling point moments after the farmers market opened that Saturday, was unexpected.
“It was a wake-up call for us,” he said.
Diepenbrock said that politicians, political causes and election campaigns are welcome to work the OIFM crowds on foot and solicit petition signatures on clipboards, but OIFM draws the line at booths. They aim to make booths available for information and education, particularly to non-profits.
“We don’t want to have confrontational issues in the middle of the market,” Diepenbrock said.
Critics focus on the free speech implications of OIFM’s policy. They say the booth was not political because EWUA is a member-owned association and is not involved in “government politics.” They also focus on the fact that the farmers market is held in a public space and point to ACLU opinions that argue for broader access for political messaging in farmers markets.
Diepenbrock responded, “We try to be a neutral venue. We don’t want to curtail free speech … but it seems like there’s plenty of venues for free speech.”
He said his decisions the previous weekend were informed by his interpretation of the OIFM’s mission, which he stated, “is to provide a safe and harmonious environment where individuals, businesses, independent organizations, and other appropriate vendors can offer goods and services to the public.”
Ultimately, the farmers market connects 50 farms and vendors to an island-wide gathering in a sacred community ritual over locally grown food.
Diepenbrock said, “It’s like the farmers market is incubating 50 small businesses,” and he wants to pull back and see the “big picture.”
