L.A. Farmers Market Feels the Squeeze

California's continuing financial meltdown is apparently putting the squeeze on the operators of farmers markets in Los Angeles. According to the L.A. Times:

Farmers market managers in Los Angeles are in a tizzy over a proposed city ordinance that would charge more than 20 markets tens of thousands of dollars to recoup the city's costs of enabling their events, which could force them to close or move if new ways to cover the costs can't be found.

"It's pretty scary, and we're all trying to figure out exactly what's going on," said Melissa Farwell, a market coordinator for Raw Inspiration Inc., which sponsors 15 local markets.

According to the Times, L.A.'s "giant budget deficit" is driving this proposed ordinance.

It would be ashamed if this ordinance deprived thousands of Los Angelenos from having access to fresh, healthy produce.