<html><head></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div class="row">
<div class="visible-lg visible-md"><div class="tnt-ads-container text-center hidden-xs"><div class="tnt-ads dfp-ad dfp-rendered dfp-creative-null dfp-line-item-null" data-dfp-adunit="/8438/napavalleyregister.com/lifestyles/food-and-cooking" data-dfp-custom-pos="fixed-leaderboard-top, atf" id="fixed-leaderboard-top" data-dfp-size="[[728,90], [970,90], [970,250]]"><div style="border: 0pt none; display: inline-block; width: 970px; height: 90px;" id="google_ads_iframe_/8438/napavalleyregister.com/lifestyles/food-and-cooking_1__container__"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px; font-weight: bold; ">The Farmers Market and free speech</span></div></div><div class="tnt-ads dfp-ad dfp-rendered dfp-creative-null dfp-line-item-null" data-dfp-adunit="/8438/napavalleyregister.com/lifestyles/food-and-cooking" data-dfp-custom-pos="fixed-leaderboard-top, atf" id="fixed-leaderboard-top" data-dfp-size="[[728,90], [970,90], [970,250]]"><div style="border: 0pt none; display: inline-block; width: 970px; height: 90px;">Brad Wagenknecht ,Oct 13, 2014</div></div><div class="tnt-ads dfp-ad dfp-rendered dfp-creative-null dfp-line-item-null" data-dfp-adunit="/8438/napavalleyregister.com/lifestyles/food-and-cooking" data-dfp-custom-pos="fixed-leaderboard-top, atf" id="fixed-leaderboard-top" data-dfp-size="[[728,90], [970,90], [970,250]]"><div style="border: 0pt none; display: inline-block; width: 970px; height: 90px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px; ">The
Napa Farmers Market tries to be everybody’s market. Anyone who wants to
sell produce, crafts and foods that are locally made or produced is
welcome to apply to rent a booth.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px; ">The
Farmers Market board of directors has tried very hard not to be a
market with a political agenda. We have not wanted to be attached to any
issue that is coming to a vote in the near term. People have requested
placement in the market because they know board members and assume
this-or-that issue would be supported by board members.</span></div></div></div></div></div><article itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Article" id="asset-5266717e-1367-5269-82ff-7f18b783df6d" class="asset article-default" data-url="http://napavalleyregister.com/lifestyles/food-and-cooking/the-farmers-market-and-free-speech/article_5266717e-1367-5269-82ff-7f18b783df6d.html"><div class="row"><div class="main-content col-lg-8 col-md-7"><div id="asset-content" data-asset-uuid="5266717e-1367-5269-82ff-7f18b783df6d"><div class="row"><div class="col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12" data-subscription-required-class="col-xs-12"><div class="asset-body" data-subscription-required-class="asset-body"><div itemprop="articleBody" class="asset-content subscriber-premium"><div class="subscriber-only" style="font-size: 17px; "><p>Many
on the board are very active politically but that is outside our roles
as members of the Farmers Market board. But our job is to try to make
the Napa Farmers Market everybody’s market.</p></div>
<div class="subscriber-only" style="font-size: 17px; "><p><b>With a goal of making the market
“everybody’s market,” the board has thoughtfully come up with a free
speech policy that is both inclusive and predictable. We have created a
free speech section where folks can campaign for issues or for
candidates running for office. The board provides this area fairly and
impartially, and if someone campaigns for a certain issue, individuals
presenting the other side of that issue are also welcome.</b></p></div><div class="subscriber-only" style="font-size: 17px; "><p>The
board has tried to differentiate between political and
educational/public service. Occasionally, there have been elected
officials who have held what is, in effect, office hours at the Farmers
Market answering questions and taking input, and they are allowed to do
this between elections.</p></div><div class="subscriber-only" style="font-size: 17px; "><p>There
are also people who set up tables to talk about issues as an educational
service, but if that issue goes to the ballot, then the board requires
that that table move to the free speech section. When someone is running
for election there are often heightened feelings of fairness or
unfairness, so this is the board’s attempt at keeping things as fair as
possible. In the future, we can revisit this issue to make improvements.</p></div><div class="subscriber-only" style="font-size: 17px; "><p>In
summary, the Farmers Market is a great place to buy good local produce
and crafts, support nonprofit causes, and provide a venue to meet and
talk to government workers and elected officials.</p></div><div class="subscriber-only" style="font-size: 17px; "><p>Tuesday
at the market, students from the Napa Valley Language Academy will be
selling produce from their school garden — please come out to support
them. And it’s not too early to get some holiday shopping done; there is
a lot to choose from at the market like pumpkins, wreaths, pottery,
art, jewelry, soap and so much more! Plus, Nate Lopez, a market
favorite, will provide musical entertainment.</p></div><div class="subscriber-only" style="font-size: 17px; "><p>On Saturday, Oct. 18, we’ll have a musical petting zoo. Bring the kids to see a variety of musical instruments at the market.</p></div><div class="subscriber-only" style="font-size: 17px; "><p>Another
new act at the market is Glenda Bates, who plays oboe, French horn and
Baroque oboe, as well as sings Baroque, classical, contemporary and jazz
— everything from Bach to Miles Davis!</p></div><div class="subscriber-only" style="font-size: 17px; "><p>And make sure to check out the market’s new fish vendor, Freshway Fish. Stop by and try their salmon spread — it’s delicious!</p></div><div class="subscriber-only"><p style="font-size: 17px; ">The
Napa Farmers Market takes place on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m.
to 12:30 p.m., May through October, in the Oxbow Public Market south
parking lot. The Farmers Market accepts WIC, CalFresh food stamps
through EBT (electronic benefits transfer), and the Senior Nutrition
Program (available through WIC). For information and upcoming events,
visit <a title="http://NapaFarmersMarket.com" href="http://NapaFarmersMarket.com" target="_blank">NapaFarmersMarket.com</a> or visit the market on Facebook.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></article></body></html>