Thank you to Charlie Mustard for publicly voicing his concerns over the
Athens Farmers  Market's denial of his vendor application. We at 1000faces
coffee believe in the power and principle of a vigorous public discourse in
our community.

Jittery Joe's is an important part of the cultural fabric of our town. Their
great social contributions not withstanding, Jittery Joes remains subject to
the same Farmers¹ Market application protocol as other vendors. Their one
application was submitted a month after this season's market had commenced,
and all the spaces allocated for non-farm vendors had been filled.

Nonetheless, the 7-member Board of Directors still deliberated over the
application and then voted unanimously to deny it, asking Jittery Joes to
submit an application next year. There was no coffee conspiracy guiding
Jittery Joes¹ exclusion from this summer's market. Rather, a diverse Board
of Directors had to do the imperfect and challenging job they were entrusted
to do: listen, deliberate, and make hard choices.

Charlie's complaint has provided the Athens community with a unique
opportunity to thoughtfully consider some of the perennial challenges a
prospering Farmers Market will face. How does a market place with a finite
amount of space decide who is granted access? What and who is "local"? When
has a company or farm become too big to fairly compete? All tough questions,
without easy answers.

Lastly, all 5 of us at 1000faces, 4 of whom are not the same people who hold
decision making power on the market's BOD, want to make it clear to Charlie
that we would welcome Jittery Joes at future Farmers Markets. We can't think
of a better way to ensure that the consumer is making the most informed
decisions about how to spend his or her coffee dollar than some healthy
side-by-side competition.


Team 1000 Faces