Brenda Koslowski, 54, caused a scene Saturday at the Riverside Community Farmers Market when she requested to escalate a tomato pricing dispute to someone with “actual authority.” The vendor, Comfort Eze, who has operated her small organic farm for eleven years and who is the authority, explained calmly that $4.50 per pound was the price. Koslowski said she had seen tomatoes for less at Stop & Shop and asked whether Eze would “meet her in the middle.” Eze said no. Koslowski then asked to speak with the market manager. The market manager, Sandra Petit, arrived and confirmed that Eze’s pricing was entirely her own business decision and that the market had no jurisdiction over individual vendor prices. Koslowski asked Petit for her supervisor’s contact information. Petit explained that she was the director. Koslowski said she would be leaving a review. She left a review. It was three stars. She wrote: “Great selection but some vendors could benefit from understanding how economics works.” Eze’s booth sold out by noon.
