'They Deserve Better': Advocates call out River Park over vendor ban

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - Following the determination to prohibition Asian nutrient vendors astatine River Park's Farmer's Market, section advocates person called for alteration and an apology from River Park's spot management, Fresno Street Eats and the California Fresh Farmer's Market Association.

Maarte Fresno, on with El Jablito Food Truck and Hapa California Coffee, issued a associated connection connected the prohibition and River Park’s handling of the situation.

El Jablito is 1 of the Asian nutrient trucks formerly astatine the market. Hapa Coffee is an Asian java pop-up, and Maarte is simply a brick-and-mortar store successful Downtown Fresno with arrogant Filipino roots.

The connection from the 3 businesses says successful part, "We basal successful solidarity with the vendors who were excluded."

The connection calls for:

• A nationalist apology from each parties involved
• A transparent mentation of vendor enactment and removal selection
• An open, ongoing dialog with Filipino, Asian and BIPOC vendors with River Park, Fresno Street Eats and California Fresh

"These are tiny businesses who amusement up with heart, with practice and with the volition to serve," the post's caption said. "They merit better."

On Monday, River Park issued a connection connected the ban that said successful part:

River Park, California Fresh Farmer’s Market Association and Fresno Street Eats person historically, and volition always, worth and inherently enactment the affluent multi-cultural communities of the Central Valley - River Park has commitments to its tenants that it indispensable support and grant with integrity. This includes, for example, fostering loyalty to their brands and striving to cultivate an situation wrong which they tin thrive. To this end, the River Park farmer’s marketplace events and different collaborations are designed to complement the River Park tenants, not straight vie with them.

In nonstop effect to River Park’s statement, the radical added:

"The lack of an apology speaks volumes," the connection said. "Their connection whitethorn assertion to 'honor with integrity.' But integrity requires accountability. This is not conscionable astir inclusion—it’s astir being treated with fairness, dignity, and respect."

YourCentralValley reached retired to River Park spot absorption for a follow-up connection but did not person a effect successful clip for this article's publication.