Don't Be a Grinch
There’s no mistaking that the holidays are rapidly approaching—baked goods for Hanukah, fancy meat cuts for Christmas, colorful lights, sparkling decorations and gifts galore. Serving diverse market patrons, unless I specifically know which holiday they celebrate I offer the encompassing greeting of Happy Holidays.But inevitably each year I encounter a Grinch.“I don’t celebrate,” snapped back a grumpy customer as I handed over her purchase with my seasonal greeting. In the moments after she scuttled away with her crabby mood the unmistakable melody from the market musician caught my ear.“You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch.” I hummed along with the irony.True, we do not all share the same beliefs and traditions, but that’s no excuse for a bah humbug attitude in the coming week. As a firm believer in diversity being the peppermint spice of December, a better response might be “And the same to you.”The Gregorian calendar is a veritable dart board of holidays with multiple New Years, faith-based celebrations and secular holidays all which hold significance in someone’s heart. Humanity is not a monoculture.As a farmer, this time of the season I tend to identify with the Winter Solstice. I put up my evergreen tree, feast upon the bounty of the year, share my abundance with loved ones, and wait for the return of the sun as the pastures enter dormancy while the insulated coveralls come out of the closet. No gathering is complete without food even if it’s only cookies and hot cocoa. For farmers, this translates into a busy time. Just ask those turkey farmers!After a short silent hiss at my Grinchy customer, compassion tapped me on the shoulder to remind me that for many people this is not the most wonderful time of the year. There are few places to turn where we are not bombarded with decorations, music, food, festivities and glad tidings. Several years ago after having experienced a deep personal loss, the raw emotions of grief left me Grinch green and sequestered alone in a home devoid of decorations. I was planning to eat cold pizza for Christmas. It was a fellow farmer who recognized my distress, showing up without shaming or judgement, instead offering me the comfort of knowing I was not alone. Since then as each year passes it seems the Ghosts of Christmas arrive to gently remind how blessed I am to be part of the Central Farm Markets family with our dedicated customers who show up week after week, year after year.But I’ll let you in on a secret. There’s another reason vendors look forward to this time of year—Winter Markets. For the seasonal producers this means the end of Sunday markets. With their fields put to rest until spring, it’s time for them to renew themselves, especially those who head to warmer locales to sit on the beach and sip drinks sporting little paper umbrellas stabbing a piece of pineapple. For those of us remaining for Winter Markets it means we’ll get to sleep in an extra hour for the next three months. For those traveling from the north, we won’t be driving into the blinding rising sun on our way into the city.
But the farmers aren’t the only ones in Whoville singing for joy. With the return of Winter Markets comes the Customer Loyalty program which rewards customers for shopping during the colder months so stop by the Information Tent at both markets to pick up a Customer Loyalty card. When you come to a winter market (January-March), come to the green Market Information Tent and get your card stamped. For every four stamps, you’ll get a $5 gift certificate to use at any of our markets. Attend all the winter markets and receive an additional $10 gift certificate – so you’ll get a total of $25 to spend at the markets.No matter how you celebrate the holidays this winter, that’s a sure gift that will make your heart grow three sizes.