SBC’s Farmers Market opens for the season with local fruits and
veggies
The smell of smoke wafted around downtown Hollister Wednesday
afternoon. The grassy lot at Fourth and San Benito Streets filled
up with coworkers taking a break from the humdrum of the day, while
parents and children stopped on the way home from school.
SBC’s Farmers Market opens for the season with local fruits and veggies
The smell of smoke wafted around downtown Hollister Wednesday afternoon. The grassy lot at Fourth and San Benito Streets filled up with coworkers taking a break from the humdrum of the day, while parents and children stopped on the way home from school.
Striped banners announced the presence of “vegetables” and “fruit.” The summer’s farmers market had arrived.
Hundreds showed for the first market of the season, browsing through booths of local produce and chatting in between their shopping. Bright strawberries, peaches and nectarines were offered up by one vendor, while B&R Farms sold dried apricots and sauces.
Phil Foster’s organic produce booth had a steady flow of customers throughout the afternoon for his mix of well-known vegetables such as lettuce, onions as well as the more exotic fare such as kohlrabi, shallots and fennel. Swank farms offered up fresh heirloom tomatoes, salsa and fresh herb and tomato plants.
In addition to the locally-grown fruits and vegetables, a few booths offered fresh flowers and other treats – baked goods, shaved ice and corn on the cob. But the overwhelming scent of the market came from the Mansmith’s barbecue grill, so strong that it drew people from nearby offices for a taste of the tri-tip sandwiches and smoked chicken.
By late Wednesday evening the lot was empty again. But the season has just started and there will be a chance for more shopping, talking and eating next Wednesday.
