The Little Rock River Market opened 11 years ago and has become a landmark in the booming downtown area, but now some people are questioning the way it is run.
The river market hall and the neighboring farmers market have been popular since the day they opened, but now a former vendor is raising concerns about their future.


Throughout the year, the Hardin Farm in Grady produces dozens of different fruits and vegetables, along with pecans. Items Jody Hardin used to sell at the Little Rock farmers market, but not anymore.


(Jody Hardin, Hardin's River Mercantile) "We just realized that we're really wanting to do local food and the river market is not really promoting or creating policies that are conducive to local foods or local farmers."


After three years inside the rivermarket hall, Hardin says he left because he did not have enough business, which he credits to a lack of parking in the rivermarket area.


Another concern of Hardin's was the 70 percent of the farmers market produce being imported, which he says local farmers are at a disadvantage.


(Hardin) "Farmers often they stop growing and start wholesaling and reselling at the market and the rules permit this."


But Assistant City manager, Bryan Day, says the rivermarket is just as strong as ever.


(Bryan Day, LR Asst. City Manager) "It's a little bit in flux, but all in all, I feel real good about the market. I think it will grow and continue to be strong."


Day says in an urban environment like downtown Little Rock, it's nearly impossible to find parking at the front door. As for Hardin's complaint about imported foods, Day says it is a necessity.


(Hardin) "Because we're in Arkansas, to have a full market, that would be very hard to do, so we do have to allow produce to come in from other states and sometimes from other countries."


Day says this year the farmers market separated the produce into locally grown and imported. As for Jody Hardin, he will open a purely local food stand with several other local farmers across the river in the Argenta.