While I wish the new owners of the market all the best, the article, “Black Mountain Farmers Market Reborn as Roots and Fruits,” [May 14, Xpress] owes an apology to Elaine Hamil, the founder and owner of the BMFM.
The article quotes Tom Brody of Rise Up Rooted Farm as saying “Harry and Elaine [Hamil], they couldn’t do it.”
It may be factual that Tom said this, but the quote is an insult to Hamil, who worked tirelessly for 11 years creating the local movement in Black Mountain, supporting local growers and managing business survival in this challenging economy while keeping prices low – often at her cost, to serve the community.
Hamil held long-term running tabs when folks were short of cash, and often gave out of her own pocket and shelves when she knew it was needed.
Making statements of what you believe and what you plan to do in the future is one thing, and living them is another. Hamil lived and breathed the market as a community center for 11 years.
What the Hamil’s couldn’t do was continue to maintain that level of involvement by themselves. When help for the community they had served all these years was not forthcoming, they finally felt they had to sell the business.
Time will tell what the new owners of Root and Fruits can do.
Robyn Josephs
Montreat
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