Feud over farmers market move

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Saturday was the last day of the Sunset Valley Farmers Market.

A farmers market feud is forcing the market to move to its new location at the Barton Creek Square Mall parking lot, beginning next weekend.

On the sunny Saturday at Sunset Valley Farmers Market, customers did what they always do. They chatted in person with the farmers who grow their food.

"Not only is it healthy, but I know all these people," said Lauren Cole, Sunset Valley Farmers Market customer.

But this Saturday signs of change marked the end of the market as customers and growers have come to know it.

"Last year, the athletic directors at AISD decided they no longer wanted us on their parking lot," said Salila Travers, Barton Creek Farmers Market director.

The market is moving from Austin Independent School District's Toney Burger Center parking lot to Barton Creek Square Mall's parking lot. The move comes after organizers said AISD kicked them out.

"We feel pretty pushed out," said Travers. "We felt like we didn't have a whole lot of choice but to move, and that is why we moved. However, we are happy now that we had to move."

Yet, Susan Staub of Amador Farms and some other farmers and growers are not so happy about the move.

"Ultimately, with the politics at Sunset Valley and everything that's gone on, we just said, 'Wait a second,'" said Staub.

Staub will not be joining the market when it moves to the mall.

"We, as customers of the market, we are not as valued as I am of my customers, and there's the rub," said Staub.

Some of those who are not moving to Barton Creek Square Mall have gotten an extension to stay at Toney Burger or will join other farmers markets.

"I think we will do much better in Cedar Park," said Staub.

This split is leaving customers with some tough choices about which side to follow.

"I don't know," said Cole. "We'll have to see. I'm not excited, and so to move to another parking lot, I'm not thrilled about."