Pike
Place Market is a large public market in Seattle, USA, and it has an
interesting way of looking after its traders.
Pike Place is described in Wikipedia as a quasi government authority. It one of the
oldest public farmers' markets in the US, comprises a mix of small farmers,
crafts people, and general merchants, and is Seattle's most popular tourist
attraction.
This
is very much a community market. Through a market foundation it assists its low
income neighbours by providing a variety of services including health care,
childcare, food banks, and accommodation.
It has assisted farmers during
difficult times and the traders have a history of supporting each other through
a "pass the hat" type of fundraiser to assist traders in special
need.
Specific examples include the market family whose son was badly injured
in a car accident and required assistance during his recovery and the long term
busker whose income was declining due to the cashless society and needed some
urgent dental treatment.
All
those aspects of community assistance have been incorporated under what is
called a Market Safety Net which is funded by a variety of inputs including
special auctions, "pass the hat" operations, and public donations.
Market
expert, David O'Neil, has experience with Pike Place Market and may be able to
enlighten us with more detail on this type of community initiative during his
visit to QVM later this month.