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US: Santa Barbara farmers market hit with price-fixing lawsuit

By  |  June 21, 2013

Two members and one ex-member of the Santa Barbara Certified Farmers Market Association have sued the market for anticompetitive practices, according to reports. The farmers, which include Santa Rita Flower Farm, Wellington Farm and Dey Dey’s Best Beef Ever, claim the farmers market colluded to fix prices, restrain trade and that it does not follow its own bylaws. Further, the plaintiffs allege the market favors larger farmers and sellers from out of town. The city’s Superior Court Judge Thomas Anderle, however, has told the plaintiffs’ lawyer that the relevant market must be more clearly defined in the suit. According to reports, the market is now considering raising fees for vendors to fund legal fees related to the suit.

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