Market News
Salinas Market Moves to Hartnell College May 4 with Grand Re-Opening Celebration
The public is invited to a grand re-opening celebration on Sunday, May 4 at the Salinas market’s new location at Hartnell College, at 156 Homestead Road in Salinas. There is ample parking in lot 4 on the corner of Homestead and West Alisal. The market is returning to the college after a 10-year hiatus during which time it has been held at the Northridge Mall.
The celebration will take place from 8 am to noon with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10 am. There will be free cake starting at 9 am and Adventure Balloon will provide entertainment for kids from 9 am to noon. The first 200 visitors will receive a free canvas shopping bag. Special tribute will be given to the market vendors that have participated in the market from the get go, 32 years ago! “Bob Harris and Nick and Velma Pasqual are part of the heart and soul of this market,” said Catherine Barr, MBCFM market manager. Bob Harris raises and sells eggs from free-range chickens fed with hormone-free feed on his farm in Freedom, and Nick and Velma Pasqual sell the carrots and flowers they grow in Watsonville.
Some 22 local growers and vendors will offer a wide range of locally grown foods—from produce to farm-fresh eggs, to oysters on the half shell, to baked goods. Customers will find a bounty of greens and spring vegetables including artichokes, spring onions, asparagus, leeks, and Asian vegetables. A beautiful assortment of fresh cut flowers and plants will add a rainbow of color to the festive marketplace.
Chris Banthien of Valencia Creek Farms retires from the market after 10 years
After 10 years of participating at the Monterey Bay Certified Farmers Markets in Aptos, Monterey and Carmel, Chris Banthien of Valencia Creek Farms is retiring from the markets. She will continue to run her business from her farm in Aptos and all of her wonderful products will still be available — extra virgin olive oil, cut lavender and beautiful flowers. You are welcome to call Chris at the farm or visit her website at http://www.valenciacreekfarms.com. Thanks Chris for the contribution you have made these ten years by making your products available at the markets!
Carmel Market re-opens May 13 with new hours
Spring is full swing and that signals the re-opening of the Carmel Market! Starting May 13, the market will operate every Tuesday from 9 am to 1 pm. This intimate market is nestled in the charming Barnyard Shopping Village, conveniently located at the intersection of Route 1 and Carmel Valley Road. The center offers 50 unique shops, galleries and restaurants, and is surrounded by lush gardens. Carmel-by-the-Sea, with its scenic coast with white sand beaches, hidden garden courtyards, European charm, performing arts and hundreds of shops, galleries and restaurants, attracts people from all over the world. Called California’s jewel, Carmel-by-the-Sea was rated as a top-ten destination in the US by Conde Nast Traveler.
Be sure to BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag) starting in April!
It’s our goal to go bag-less at the markets this summer! So starting in April, please remember to bring your own shopping bags so we can eliminate the use of plastic bags which are so damaging to our environment. There will be some expandable mesh bags available for shoppers who don’t BYOB. Please note that some vendors will no longer be providing plastic bags, others will be charging a small amount per bag. Environmental groups will be on hand selling reusable bags and Wendy the Bag Lady will sell her Chico bags at the Aptos Market. According to One Bag at Time, Americans throw away 14 billion bags every year, representing the consumption of about 12 billion barrels of oil — enough to drive a car to moon and back over 2 million times. And there is enough petroleum in just 14 plastic bags to drive a car 1 mile!
Market farmers and vendors featured in the media
Will Brokaw, avocado and citrus grower at Monterey Farmers Market is featured in The Salinas Californian November 30, 2007 — Read Story >
Andrew Cohen, our Chef in Residence, writes about Apples in his October 24, 2007 Sentinel Column, Fresh Feasts: Apple a Day: bake 'em, saute 'em, eat 'em — Read Story >
Andrea London and her artisan cheeses, now at Aptos Farmers Market, is featured in the fall/winter issue of Santa Cruz magazine and the Metro Santa Cruz on November 21, 2007 — Read Full Story >