THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 22, 1996 TAG: 9609220012
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HOLLY WESTER, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 76 lines
If there's one thing farmer David Hare has learned about his business, it's that you never give up.
Through bad weather, through lost crops and through the flames that charred his Farmer's Market produce stand and many other businesses there on Aug. 22, Hare has stuck it out.
And even though controversy surrounds the future of the 20-year-old marketplace - whether it will be rebuilt, moved or done away with altogether - Hare opened his produce stand Saturday for the first time since the blaze, for the Neptune Festival's Country Fair Day.
``You can't give up,'' he said, standing beneath a yellow-and-white striped tent - Hare Farms' ``building'' for the time being. ``That's just the way it is.''
What's threatening Hare and dozens of merchants like him is a suggestion by Louis Cullipher, the city's agriculture director, in a Sept. 10 report to City Council.
After some debate over the value of the city-subsidized property and a task force's follow-up on those concerns, Cullipher outlined three options for the market: Discontinue it, rebuild it on its current site at Dam Neck and Princess Anne roads or rebuild it on another site - possibly the nearby, city-owned Lake Ridge property, the same 1,200-acre tract on which the Virginia Beach Amphitheater is built.
But for merchants and faithful customers, there's only one option: Keep the Farmer's Market where it is. A petition created by a group of local citizens agrees.
With a plea that reads ``Please keep Farmer's Market located on Dam Neck Road. It is convenient and important to our community,'' the petition has already racked up hundreds of signatures, said June Poole, a longtime customer who is helping lead the effort.
Copies were scattered among merchants' stands Saturday.
``Get 'em to sign it, Kathy'' Mark Holland said to his helper at Holland Produce Co., one of the original merchants that survived the fire.
``I am!'' replied Kathy Paysee, a fan of the market who was glad to gather signatures.
Paysee said she would hate to see the market move. ``This location was chosen because it was convenient,'' she said. ``I don't see how that has changed.''
Edith Williams was one customer ready and willing to sign Paysee's copy of the petition.
``I love this place,'' said Williams, who has been shopping at the market since its opening. ``This is an outlet for people who earn an honest living.
``What are they going to do? Tear it down and build condominiums? A golf course?''
``Yes,'' say some, who aren't so optimistic.
Shirley Frango, owner of Shirley's Market, is one merchant who said the future doesn't look good.
``The city don't tell you nothin','' said Frango, who celebrated 20 years at the market in April. ``You know more before you go to the meetings than when you come out.''
Andrew Pitts, a farmer from New Kent County, agreed with Frango's speculation: ``It'll be closed up the first day of January - I guarantee it.''
Pitts, who has sold pumpkins at the market for 16 years, isn't pulling for the relocation option either.
``If they move it, I ain't goin' to it,'' he said. ``It used to be a good market, but it has steady gone bad.''
Farmer's Market secretary Phyllis Franklin said she can't make a prediction about the market's future.
``The city needs to review the situation and do some research,'' she said. ``It's going to take some time.''
While the outcome is as unpredictable as a farmer's season, Franklin said she is sure of one thing: ``City Council will look out for the overall good of the city, not just the good of one special interest group.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
DAVID B. HOLLINGSWORTH/The Virginian-Pilot
Andrew Pitts, a farmer from New Kent County, now sells his pumpkins
from the back of his truck. He fears the market will be closed down
by the first of the year. by CNB