Sunflower Farmers Market.....NW OKC....protesting?

[Cohiba]

Hey All,

For a few weeks as my wife and I go to her mother's house behind French Market Mall/NW63rd and May area, we noticed a new store....Sunflower Farmers Market.

WOW....on the weekend, this place is crazy busy! I'm surprised Auto Zone and Half Price Books hasn't complained about market customers using their parking space.

Well, back to my question! As we drive by the store on May Ave, I see a few protestors with signs stating..Keep Oklahoma dollars in Oklahoma. What are they protesting? Unless a business is in Oklahoma and owned by Oklahomans...how is any business keeping money in Oklahoma....to a certain extent?

Please...an explantion is needed....about Sunflower Farmers Market!? http://www.perishablenews.com/index.php?article=0014613
Thanks!
Cohiba

 

[Tinbender75]

I think they are protesting because Sunflower Market doesn't buy from local organic farmers.

 

[Biggsly]

We went last weekend. They had some really good prices on some stuff, and ok prices on other stuff. I don't think the protesters were hurting them at all. It was crazy busy.

 

[RaysZ71]

That place is awesome. That's all.

 

[MyMonkey]

Oddly enough I spoke at length with a few of the protesters as well as the management of the store regarding this activity. I was informed by the protesters that they objected to the non conformity of Sunflower Market in reference to a Union. Namely the United Food and Commercial Workers Union. Sunflower was alleged to have high rates for insurance and lower wages than Homeland stores. If I remember correctly the individual stated that "Sunflower charges its' employees $500 a month for health insurance and employees of Homeland get all their dependents covered for $50 a month." (I have no idea whether that is true or not.) They had a pamphlet and I took one for informative purposes although I have since discarded it. Oddly enough, when I pressed for information it turns out Sunflower had polled Homeland employees and brought them over or at least attempted to do so to employment at Sunflower. It also turns out that Homeland is pissed about that fact as well as the fact that Sunflower does not subscribe to the Union. The other allegation was that Sunflower was a non-locally owned store and as such, monies would be funneled out of state. That too is something I could not confirm or deny.

As far as the store is concerned, it was very nice. My wife stays Gluten free and that is always a struggle but they had great selections and good prices. Great change of pace if you ask me. Alhtough, most stores will be feeling the burn when Whole Foods opens. That place is AMAZING!

JJ

 

[Tinbender75]

I was way off. Bad intel. I like it and the Sushi is good too!

 

[Cohiba]

Thanks for the Answers!!

Whole Foods......Yawn When I lived in Houston, my wife and I weren't impressed. We like Central Market a whole lot more and really liked it when we could have a beer, grilled food amd live musice BEFORE we started shopping. Yes, they had this at Central Market. I never saw an electric xylophone until Central Market.

Cooking classes held there also. Just wish Oklahoma/OKC would let markets sell wine and stronger beer. When is Oklahoma going to wear their "Big Boy Pants" and join the rest of the US? Oklahoma should just copy what Texas does with their liquor laws, then I would be one HAPPY CAMPER!!!!

Cohiba

**Yes I was born and raised here and one of a few things I agree with Texas on is their liquor laws!!

 

[onearmedman]

It's a free market, right? If they create competition for labor (workers), that's a good thing too. Then you don't need socialist union protestors to snivel about how it's not fair.

 

[dennishoddy]

We have friends in Katy Tx, just outside of Houston. My wife and I are into gormet cooking as a hobby, and we were amazed at what one can find in food stores in that urban area.

We went to the asian market in North Tulsa once.
I smelled something walking into the store. The closer I got to the meat/fish market, the worse it got. Finally saw some carp looking fish in a glass aquarium. Half dead with white gills, and the others not looking good. People were buying "fresh fish" from that mess that looked like a minnow bucket gone bad on a hot summer day.

 

[mikeyinokc]

Sunflower is owned by a company in Arizona. Homeland is owned by AWG out of Kansas City.