Summer is finally here! Summer brings some of our favorite things; delicious fruit, a great variety of fresh produce and, of course, beautiful flowers. All these great things are available at our local farmers market.
Approximately 17 years ago, the City worked to bring back a farmers market to our downtown. Once very popular on Thursday nights, it was interrupted by the Loma Prieta earthquake, and, due to ongoing repairs to the downtown buildings, it never resumed.
It took several years and a lot of effort by community volunteers to get the market established. An Ad Hoc committee of residents, working with the City, helped to find the right location, established a calendar and hired a market manager. The goal of this group went beyond just providing a source of fresh produce; it also intended to make sure future generations learned about the value of farming and the importance of protecting farmland. Under a USDA program, having the market entitles families currently being served by WIC to receive coupons for fruits and vegetables from the market. Watching children, as they eagerly pick out fruits and vegetables for mom to buy, shows us that the market helps us bring healthy food to families in our valley. The market also features “senior day”, in which seniors receive coupons for shopping for fresh food at the market.
The Watsonville Certified Farmer’s Market is a non-profit. In order to provide the most affordable produce, stall fees are very low and the market receives no subsidies from the City. The partnership between the market and the City has worked well for the community. There is always room for a community event or agency to do outreach at the market and various agencies team up with the market in order to have events at the plaza.
Prepared food vendors offer some wonderful choices. Lots of fresh fruit and juices, as well as some authentic regional cooking, allow families to linger in the plaza while enjoying an early dinner.
Summer is here! Let’s enjoy the bounty it has to offer and visit our farmers market!
Hours for the Certified Farmer’s Market are: Fridays 3-7 pm (year-round)and Sundays noon-5 pm (June through September).
Marcela Tavantzis, Assistant City Manager
