Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, April 12, 1990                   TAG: 9004120371
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B5   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: Southwest bureau
DATELINE: HILLSVILLE                                LENGTH: Medium

PROTECTED SALES SPACE SOUGHT IN FARM MARKET

Mike Goldwasser, president of the Southwest Virginia Agricultural Association, wanted part of the space under the wholesale shed made available. That way, small farmers could sell from the backs of their pickup trucks on days when rain or heat make it impractical to park the trucks in the open, he said.

Ralph J. "Bob" Martin, chairman of the county Board of Supervisors, said, "We may be arguing and discussing something that may not be a concern."

Assistant Carroll County Administrator Billy Mitchell said the Farmers Market Advisory Board on Tuesday approved a shed that could be used by truckers in the next construction expansion phase, if bids on the rest of the work are low enough to add it.

Goldwasser wanted a commitment that part of the existing shed could be used for truck sales if the new one is not built. "Being realistic, we don't know if that truckers' shed will ever be built," he said.

"What I'm saying is: We're going to provide a place for you to sell your produce. It's going to be there," Mitchell said.

He said Carroll County had imposed conditions on its donation of land for the regional farmers' market, including the eventual construction of such facilities. Others, such as 10,000 square feet of cooling space and grading and packing facilities, which were all recommended in the original feasibility study, were eliminated before the project was approved by the General Assembly and signed by then-Gov. Gerald Baliles, he said.

"They're dead. They're gone. They're never going to be resurrected," Mitchell said.

Goldwasser said the agricultural association also felt that farming counties outside Carroll were not being kept informed about decisions affecting the regional market.

"It's not just for Carroll County," he said. "We're going to need those people if we're going to be successful."

Mitchell said other counties are invited to send representatives to advisory board meetings. "If they get notices of the meetings and they don't come, how is it our fault?" he asked.

"The farmers' market won't make a go if we start squabbling about it and arguing about it," said Supervisor J. Eddie Vaughn. "We've got to work together."