Nerve-racking as it may have been for event organizers, powerful
wind gales Friday and erratic rain patterns Saturday preceded the
perfect climate for Sunday’s inaugural
”
Spice of Life Downtown Gilroy Festival
&
amp; Market
”
kickoff extravaganza. Full article
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Nerve-racking as it may have been for event organizers, powerful wind gales Friday and erratic rain patterns Saturday preceded the perfect climate for Sunday’s inaugural “Spice of Life Downtown Gilroy Festival & Market” kickoff extravaganza.
“All the prayers for good weather were answered,” said Market Manager Catalina Ventura, who donned a Grateful Dead sweatshirt and a big smile. “It’s so lovely to see it in its physical form – not in paper, not in an email, not in my head.”
As many others would similarly comment, conditions were ideal for what marks Gilroy’s third attempt to establish its own farmers’ market.
An overcast sky kept the heat at bay, while balmy temperatures made it comfortable enough to amble around in a T-shirt between the two vacant lots near the corner of Monterey and Seventh streets. Kids gnawed on buttered corn-on-the-cob, Bell Hill’s fragrant “man soap” sold out in just a few hours and splashes of color dotted the scene, as every other person seemed to be clutching a handful of hot-hued Gerber daisies from Ruvalcaba Nursery.
According to Ventura’s estimates, a couple thousand people trafficked in and out between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
“We’re so excited about this. We planned nothing today so we could be here,” said Jennifer Del Bono, principal of Mt. Madonna High School in Gilroy. She stood nearby while her daughter, Ava Hudnut, had a purple princess crown painted on her forehead at Bryannalee’s Face Painting booth.
The project is a long time coming for those spearheading the effort, which includes Ventura, Gilroy Demonstration Garden Director Judy Hess and Leadership Gilroy, a nine-month program that grooms community members for leadership roles.
Members of this program created the entire infrastructure for the farmers’ market, helped launch the inaugural festival and will now turn things over to Ventura.
On Sunday, volunteers and market attendees echoed each other, agreeing the event was a success.
It’s bigger, more structured and comprehensive than past attempts – but it’s up to Gilroyans to fuel momentum.
“Everybody should bring five friends next time,” said Greg Bozzo, 2010 Gilroy Garlic Festival president.
Councilman Dion Bracco recalled past attempts turned into flea markets, but Ventura firmly vows that won’t happen on her watch.
Constructive criticism from online commenters who visited gilroydispatch.com focused largely on music coming from the disc jockey, which several described as too loud and conversation-stifling. Ventura explained Monday this was a one-time occurrence specifically designated to coincide with the “festival” feel. From this point on, Sundays will have a “market feel” and feature local acoustic musicians, she said.
Jaime Rosso, a Leadership Gilroy board member and Gilroy Unified School Board trustee, pointed out it’s going to take more than a helping nudge to keep the market going strong.
This concept was hammered on by Mayor Al Pinheiro, who addressed attendees with a dogged tone of resolve.
“I don’t want to hear, ‘There’s nothing to do in Gilroy,’ ” he said, standing on the band stage and speaking into a microphone. “If you don’t come down and support it, it’s not going to happen.”
If Sunday’s turnout is any indication, things are off to a good start.
Yellow, red and orange carrots were hot items at Heirloom Organics, customer demand at Silva’s Sausage was nonstop and Moose Osmani of Hummus Heaven was a personable ball of energy.
Between doling samples of his delicious Mediterranean fare, Osmani tempted passers-by with 19 flavors of hummus, specialty olives, fluffy pita bread and crispy chips.
The creamy artichoke hummus is a best seller, he said.
Patrons had a hankering for the sweet kernels of Watsonville-based Lily’s Roasted Corn, like the tiny 4-year-old Sydney Emmert, who declared “we’ll be here every day now.”
She was a smaller version of her 6-year-old sister, Madison. Both had painted faces and were devouring large ears of corn.
“We’ll be here every week,” corrected their mom, Stacy Emmert.
Pausing to take note of inventory, Lily’s owners Griselda and Gilbert Nunez said they had gone through 200 ears in the first couple of hours.
Grasping a bouquet alongside her husband Robert Ortega, Gilroy resident of 37 years Nelly Ortega observed, “this is a lot nicer. The ones they had before were small. I see great potential for this one.”
Nelly said she regularly visits the farmers’ market in downtown Hollister, but plans to return to the one in Gilroy every week.
“When we first drove up I said, ‘there’s no parking spaces left!’ That’s a good thing,” she said.
Retired Gilroy police officer Don Kludt, who perused the market with his wife and retired Luigi Aprea Elementary School teacher Joyce Kludt, thinks things are off to a promising start.
“We’re hoping for more to come,” said Don. “Gilroy needs the support.”
Friends and neighbors congregated at the First Street Coffee booth, a number of curious bystanders gathered to watch demonstrations on concocting cherry preserves and others flocked to local artisans – a number with interesting stories behind their creations.
“It takes me about 11 hours,” said Janet Locey, who was working on a handmade rug. Together with her husband John Locey, the two craft soaps and lotion from milk produced by their 11 goats at Bell Hill Farms in Hollister.
The market gives recognizable locals in Gilroy a chance to showcase talent, such as Jan Bernstein-Chargin – director of public information for Gavilan College who had her own pencil drawings on display alongside intriguing black and white photography taken by her husband.
Camping out adjacent to Bernstein-Chargin was the likable Roy and Sue Guist, an elderly couple touting their “Manzanita Magic.” These exquisite, smooth-to-the-touch pendants are hand-carved from the burl root of Manzanita trees that burned – along with the Guist’s home – in the 2002 Croy Wildfire.
“There’s a lot of hip people here,” quipped Ventura’s mother, Mary Jane Renz. A Gilroy native and proprietor of Heaven & Earth Body products, Renz was “pleasantly surprised” by the turnout.
“If they can’t support a market now … are you kidding me?” she said, looking around.
Renz added seeing a grassroots effort centered on community, sustainability and wellness “makes me very hopeful for Gilroy.”
Local produce vendors such KT Brooks from San Martin-based Ynot Organics divulged she’s not in this industry for the money. It’s about being proactive, sharing knowledge and serving a higher cause, she said.
“I want to teach people how to utilize insects – nematodes, lady bugs, praying mantises – those are very good bugs,” said Brooks, who hopes to turn Ynot Organics into an educational center.
Several feet to the left, the popular Gilroy-based, family-owned Van Dyke Farms had a rainbow spread of organic sun-dried fruits including Bartlett pears, cherries, apricots and persimmons.
“It turned out better than I thought it would,” said Eric Van Dyke. “We’re going to stay for the long haul.”
Approaching the Van Dyke booth, Karen Humber – a teacher at Luigi Aprea Elementary School and Gilroy resident of 25 years – described the market as “fantastic.”
“The city has tried this for so many years,” she said. “I think this is going to take off. It’s been a long time coming.”
Renz agrees.
“Now is the time. This is the kind of thing that changes communities permanently.”
THE GILROY FARMER’S MARKET: AT A GLANCE
The market will take place every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the two vacant lots near the corner of Monterey and Seventh streets. Below is a snapshot sampling of vendors.
–Bell Hill: Goat milk soap and lotion; handmade rugs from John and Janet Locey’s farm in Hollister. The spiced mahogany “man soap” is a bestseller.
–Frantoio Grove: Delicious extra virgin olive oil made from locally grown olives in San Martin. Drizzle over caprese salad or mix with vinegar to dress a simple dinner salad.
–Hummus Heaven: You don’t know what you’re missing until you try it, and you can only get Moose Osmani’s hummus, olives, pita chips and fluffy pita bread at farmer’s markets. Artichoke, Roasted Red Pepper Tapenade, Roasted Garlic, Black Bean with Chipotle, Basil and Sundried Tomato, Avocado and Cilantro are just a handful of the 19 flavors.
– Uvas Gold Apiaries: Golden goodness cultivated on the peak of Hecker Pass. Try the raw honey or pick up a handmade beeswax candle.
– Heirloom Organics: Based out of Hollister, these vendors specialize in seasonal fruits, vegetables and crops. Try their red, yellow, purple and white carrots or lovely lettuce varieties.
– Gilroy Demonstration Garden: Ready-to-go potted plants and herbs such as lavender, in addition to a cornucopia of fresh vegetables.
– Van Dyke Farms: Organic, sun-kissed, sulfur-free, dried fruits that taste like they were just picked. Try the Bartlett pears. Amazing.
– Lonely Mountain Farms: Korean red hot garlic, garlic scapes, fresh stalks of lavender, rosemary, tarragon, artichokes, beets and pumpkins. Stop by and say hi to P.J. Elias and Kenny Baker, who cart their morsels all the way to Gilroy from Freedom.
– Silva Sausage Company: People can’t seem to get enough of the Linguica, an award winning, hickory smoked, traditional Portuguese sausage.
–Lily’s Roasted Corn: Based out of Watsonville, this couple touts golden ears of corn-on-the-cob, as well as loaded mashed potatoes.
–Ynot Organics: A wide array of beautiful organic produce from San Martin, including flowers and herbs. It takes owner KT Brooks roughly seven hours to hand wash enough vegetables to sustain three farmer’s markets.
–Heaven and Earth Body: Handmade soap and body products made in the Santa Cruz Mountains that incorporate ingredients such as cocoa, almond, aloe, hemp, mango and shea butter.
–Manzita Magic: Handcrafted pendants from the roots of Manzita trees that burned in the 2002 Croy wildfire.
–Vasquez Farms: Juicy strawberries from Vasquez Farms, based out of Moss Landing.
–Ralph’s Cherry Hut: Ripe, locally grown cherries from Gilroy.
–Ruvalcaba Flowers: Gorgeous fresh-cut flowers from Watsonville.
