Downtown Farmers Market Kicks Off Sundays In The Summer

It’s official—the city of Watsonville now has two days of certified farmers markets on the weekends for people to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather the central coast has provided with us lately.

Sunday marked the first time that street vendors were allowed to sell their locally grown or prepared food products other then on the scheduled Friday afternoons in the downtown area that usually leads to road closures of Union and Peck streets. 

A special ribbon cutting ceremony for the farmers market took place right next to the Wells Fargo Bank building on Main Street a little after 3 p.m., followed by a mariachi band that added a little music to the celebration.  

On hand for the grand start was Watsonville farmers market manager and Four Sisters Farm owner Nancy Gammons along with Watsonville City Council Member Lowell Hurst, who did the honors of slicing the red ribbon in half. (Mayor Eduardo Montesino was scheduled to appear but failed to show up for unknown reasons.)

The local farmers set up booths with plenty of their fine produce for sale like juicy strawberries and raspberries, ripe Japanese cucumbers and bright bouquetes of flowers for that special someone.

Other vendors that set up shop by the Watsonville plaza also sold pupusas, traditional Mexican dishes, grilled chicken from Hector’s Bakery and Taqueria, cups of fruit cocktail, bags of roasted garbanzo beans, corn on a stick and the ever-popular sugar coated crispy churros.

The kids were in for a treat when Brian Holland aka Squirrel was on the scene making balloon animals as he sat in his chair under the trees for some cool shade. Holland, originally from North Carolina, started his little gig back in 2004 and said he picked up his tricks from books at the library.

A face painter was also at the market for the children and they patiently stood in line for her to draw vivid mask or colorful characters on their tiny faces.

Jesus Madrigal, co-owner of Hector’s Bakery, was also at the farmers market and he mentioned that the city plans to keep the small shopping center open until the end of summer.