Wanting a Change

Both Link (left) and Martin (right) started working for Farm Fresh on July 1st. Link, who is also a divorce mediation contractor, a social worker for farmers, and a farmer himself, works at both the Neutaconkanut and Central Falls Farmers Markets. Martin, who is retired from his corporate job, only works at the Neutaconkanut Farmers Market. 

Martin: I was growing my own microgreens at home. I've had my garden in my house. And I love being connected to food. I'm a big believer in letting food be your medicine instead of chemicals and whatnot. I kind of like being connected to the community of farming. 

Link: Yeah, this job has exposed me to a lot of different foods, because the farmers want to share, which has been really nice. 

I grew up in Providence. Farm Fresh has always been kind of an institution, you know. They do a lot for the community. I used to volunteer at the winter market when I was in high school. I was just looking to pick up some hours. I do contract work on the side and this helped fill out that schedule. 

Martin: I just wanted a change. I came from the corporate world. Working indoors, working in front of a computer. This is an outside job. Connected to nature, connected to people. 

Link: Working outside, highly underrated. It's a big difference. And no computers. 

Martin: It’s a very chill working environment. We were like, ‘wow, everybody here is so chill.’ If you go to Farm Fresh, you're going to have a lot of fun. If you mess up, it's okay. We're used to different worlds where you mess up, there are consequences. But the organization is very chill. 

A lot of the customers wanted more farmers here. Sometimes I feel like they wanted more selection. Some people think this is just too small-scale maybe. 

Link: But at the same time, most of our regulars, the people that Martin and I see the most, are just here for the vouchers. The city of Providence has this voucher program. If you have more vendors, do you really think that it would be serving the same population? I think that would bring in people who aren't already being served here. 

Martin: The city of Providence gives vouchers to people to spend for free. Farmers can trade it in, the same way that we have these coins. 

Link: The regulars, getting to know people's faces. Like, every week I'm seeing you and so you feel part of the community. But I thought it was only happening because of the vouchers. 

Martin: We don't have that many regular customers who come here to spend their hard-earned money right? It's been people who like the market, they come, but they want the free voucher. 

Link: I think there are regulars who go to the stands directly and don't talk to Martin and me at all, people who spend their hard-earned money here. However, our position here is we're dealing with the folks who are here because they're incentivized to be here. 

We might get 15 voucher people, regulars, at least I think. It could get as high as 30 when everybody comes.

Martin: We'll say 20, and then maybe a high-end 15 of the EBT customers, so 35 customers come to us. 

Link: I think the real interesting question is revamping the voucher program because right now they have to sign up, and there is only a certain number of slots. For example, already today, somebody came by and was like, ‘oh, can I get a voucher?’ We have these stacks of vouchers that people are not picking up, but we still have to say, ‘oh, no, the program is closed because technically our list is full.’ We have people on the list who aren't coming, and we have people coming that aren't on the list. It would be nice if it could just be first come first serve. 

Martin: You have to sign up in the first two weeks of July, you just sign up with your card. Anybody could have signed up, but it was a limited number of spaces. 

Link: You don't even need an ID. 

Martin: There were like 40 spaces, and then that's it. It’s $10 a week. 

Link: Every market is different. I've noticed that some markets are way more social, where people are chatting with the vendors, or the vendors talk with each other. This one, no. The markets that I work at, the vendors aren't really friendly with each other. In competition. The vibe completely changes when everybody is kind of chatting. 

Martin: I mean, it's been fun. I think we've both had fun. 

Link: Yeah! I would say our friendship is the best thing that I got out of this, for sure.