Farmers market a harbinger of fresh summer produce and
treats
The Hollister downtown farmers market has been under way for a
few weeks now and local vendors say they are doing quite well.
Farmers market a harbinger of fresh summer produce and treats
The Hollister downtown farmers market has been under way for a few weeks now and local vendors say they are doing quite well.
“I heard Paul Hain say the first day was one of the best days we had at the market,” said Sharlene Van Rooy, the market manager. “He said ‘Kudos to the people supporting the market.'”
Hain sells organic walnuts and free range chickens through the farmers market season.
Many of the current vendors are regular staples at the market each year, including Phil Foster, who sells Pinnacle Organic Produce. Other vendors who often frequent the market are Swank Farms, whose staff sell a bright spread of heirloom and other tomato varities, and Mansmith’s, whose staff starts the grills up at 1 p.m. to be ready when the market opens at 3 p.m.
“We average about 20 vendors every week,” Van Rooy said.
The market has space for up to 26 vendors and there are still a few vendors who will be setting up shop in the coming weeks. One vendor will be selling local cherries, another will sell chinese vegetables and there are still a few spots for local nonprofits or local artists. Brian Rossi is working as the vendor coordinator for the market.
“Once school is out, we are hoping to get a bounce house out there,” Van Rooy said.
They also have a woman with an alpaca who will be giving spinning demonstrations down the road.
The staple of the market, however, remains the fresh produce and Rossi and Van Rooy work to balance the offerings.
“We have all the food covered,” Van Rooy said. “We try not to have too many of one thing since we are such a small market.”
The farmers market is at the corner of Fourth and San Benito Streets. It is open Wednesday afternoons from 3-7 p.m. through September.
