Anyone looking for fresh fruits, vegetables and more need look
no further than the Hollister’s Farmers Market, which returns to
the downtown district Wednesday with a number of new features to
make the weekly event even more user-friendly.
Anyone looking for fresh fruits, vegetables and more need look no further than the Hollister’s Farmers Market, which returns to the downtown district Wednesday with a number of new features to make the weekly event even more user-friendly.
Shoppers will find more convenient hours, coupons from downtown businesses and more as nearly 30 area vendors will take part in the market that runs from 3-7 p.m. along East Street.
“We are opening and closing the market an hour earlier than last year,” said Liz Kresky, executive director of the Hollister Downtown Association. “With the time change, we hope more people will be able to attend.”
Also new this year is a community booth for non-profit organizations to advertise their services, and starting June 4, officials from San Benito County Women, Infants and Children will have a booth where people can get information about the program.
“This year vendors will be accepting WIC coupons for fresh fruits and vegetables only,” said Farmers Market Committee Chairwoman Barbara Bauer. “But people can’t use them to buy eggs, pasta or breads.”
The market, with vendors primarily from Hollister, Aromas and Watsonville, will run through Sept. 24 and 26 to 27 vendors will offer their produce, Bauer said.
Another bonus for shoppers is local businesses will hand out discount coupons to encourage more downtown shopping.
“This week is Dorothy McNett’s and next week She’s will be giving out coupons,” Bauer said.
HDA is also hoping to have coupons from local stores every week.
“We want to draw more people to the downtown area, not just shop and leave,” Kresky said.
The market returned to the downtown area last year after an absence of several years and attendance was strong during the summer. However, by the end of the market’s run in October, attendance had dropped and officials decided to close the market a month early. That was one reason officials this year decided to end the market a month earlier.
“We’ll close the market in September while it’s still light out and it won’t be as cold,” Kresky said.
Along with the usual produce vendors, speciality foods and other items will be available, officials said.
“We’re hoping to bring in a mushroom farmer,” Bauer said. “We also have a new nursery that will carry fresh roses.”
And to create a more inviting atmosphere, HDA will have live entertainment to kick off this year’s event, with Alverna Paine playing the keyboards.
For more information, call the HDA at 636-8406.
