Several farmers talked to Farrell council Monday about an ordinance that makes it illegal for anyone to sell anything at the Farrell Farmers Market that they didn't grow themselves.

Two farmers complained to council last month that they knew the law was being violated because they had helped others carry bags of tomatoes and crates of produce bearing someone else's name. They claimed that vendors buying produce wholesale and passing it off as homegrown are taking money from legitimate growers.

Refuting those complaints, Gene and Darlene Holsapfel of West Middlesex said it isn't unusual for growers to buy and sell produce. Like other growers, the couple buy wholesale to provide a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. Most markets allow vendors to purchase up to 20 percent of what they sell in order to offer a variety, Holsapfel said.

"Nobody down there, but maybe one, could possibly be raising his own stuff and that man lives in Ohio," Holsapfel said.

The Holsapfels were joined by about six others who said they represent the majority of vendors and by William Freeze, food inspector with the state Department of Agriculture, and Mercer County Commissioner Cloyd E. "Gene" Brenneman.

"There's been a lot of conversation about managers and who should or shouldn't sell in your farmers market. I would like to have them speak," Brenneman said.

Mayor Bill Morocco said Farrell's ordinance, which has been around since about 1936, doesn't allow people to buy at another market and bring it in to sell as their own.

"I don't think anybody is in violation of our ordinance," he added.

State regulations differ from the city's, Freeze said, noting Pennsylvania says a vendor must grow at least $1,000 of produce a year. Fifty percent must be Pennsylvania grown, but regulations don't specify the produce must come from the farmer's own farm.

Vendors must also be approved prior to taking vouchers for qualifying seniors and participants in the Women, Infants and Children program, he said, adding last year, Pennsylvania distributed $5 million in vouchers.

Christine Derek and Stephanie Drivere of Greenville said the reason farmers buy from other growers is because the trade is shifty. One week a farmer can have too many tomatoes and the next have none, they said.

"And you want to provide for the vouchers," Mrs. Drivere said, noting the checks can't be used in grocery stores.

For example, she said, last year the fruit crop was very poor. In order to provide people with fruit, vendors had to buy it.

Councilman Rudolph Hammond said council needs to look into changing its ordinance so it agrees with the state regulations.

Councilman Louis Falconi said council members were getting different information from both sides and suggested that before the market opens in July, "We need a meeting with all the people who attend to get things solved. I don't want them fighting with each other."