No off hours at Jean-Talon market
An interesting piece on people working at Jean-Talon market segues into a rather strange insight that despite improvements at the market, sales are down compared to years ago, the theory being that people visit the market for a lark, but do their real shopping somewhere else.
Ephraim 15:12 on 2012/09/27 Permalink
I find it difficult to compare prices at Jean-Talon/Atwater because they try to sell in containers and not weight. I buy quite a bit and the price per kilo (or per pound) is important for me to know for comparison. It’s easier when it comes to eggs and other products that you can easily compare. But it is obvious that many of the booths don’t want you to be able to compare. So it’s easier to buy at the supermarket in that case.
Alex L 10:42 on 2012/09/28 Permalink
Ephraim, for most resellers at those markets food is being bought by quantity and not by weight. For example, they buy a box of watermelons, then they count how many there are in it, how much they paid for it and then decide how much to sell it, again given the amount and not the weight. Same thing for everything they sell.
Forcing them to sell by weight would condemn them to big etalages like supermarkets, where everyone can choose THE apple that doesn’t have any imperfection and where a third of fresh produce that isn’t perfect visually is trashed. And in my opinion, that would basically be the end of markets, because families can’t afford to buy that much variety and trash as much as supermarkets. Even now they are forced to sell fruits and vegetables that are off season because people demand asparagus in september and apples in may, not taking into account the growing season.
Have a look at how the panier biologique system works: you buy in advance, not knowing if your veggies will be nice looking, and you buy what the farmer has grown and can bring. In my opinion, that’s how it should work.
Andy 01:05 on 2012/09/29 Permalink
Yes, the market does look better now than then. But access by car has become more difficult – either by anti-car policies (and not fully understanding the consequences) or by neglect (the poor planning of roadwork). Or perhaps because supermarket produce has improved (since Loblaws came to town). Some Walmarts should be selling fresh produce within months, too. More private competition, stumbling public works? A familiar cliché?