This Sunday at the Gilroy Farmers’ Market: Trade soda for healthy produce

The Gilroy Farmers’ Market has been enjoying a healthy turnout as of late.

With 150 market-goers who patronized local food and artisan craft vendors last Sunday, market organizers are looking forward to finishing out the season with a bang. 

This coming Sunday is Health Day at the market. First 5 Santa Clara County, which is committed to “achieving real and sustainable results towards the successful future of young children and their families,” will be hosting a soda exchange. Bring out your full soda cans, or two liters of soda and exchange them for vouchers that you can spend at the market. 

People and Planet, a locally owned health food store in Morgan Hill will be on hand with some of their sustainable, organic and gluten-free grocery products. They will also be bringing apples. 

Do you have extra blankets or jackets that you’d like to give to a worthy cause? The Gilroy Compassion Center, a year-round homeless shelter in progress, will be present and accepting your donations. 

Walgreens is also going to be giving free blood pressure checks, and the Gilroy Demonstration Garden will be educating visitors on healthy snack ideas for children. 

The Gilroy Farmers’ Market takes place every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the corner of Monterey and Seventh streets until Oct. 28, 2012. 

Market “tid-bits” submitted from Gilroy Farmers’ Market Manger Kersty Daniels 

• Rebekah’s Culinary Academy said their most popular item is their pumpkin bread and garlic-herb focaccia bread. Get there early, it sells out! Rebekah’s will also bring in coffee (delicious when paired with their “Cinnamon Snails”). 

• If you don’t have your Halloween or Christmas-themed earrings yet, come by and browse Marina’s Gift Shop. She has fun jewelry for everyone.

• The most popular items at Heirloom Organics lately has been kale, basil and boccoli-diccio.

• Get to the market early if you want some of Zanzontles’ beautiful broccoli freshly harvested from Salinas. Don’t forget to pick up strawberries while you’re at it!

• Manzanita Magic has amazing gifts if you’re looking for something different. Check out their “strange plants” spinning tops (sold in sets of five). These tops are carved by hand and adorned with beautiful acrylic beads that look like plants.

• Ladies, are you looking for something beautiful and unique to have on your arm? No, not a man. Louise Shields, our local artist, will be debuting her new line of purses and bags. These are one-of-a-kind, so come on out and be one of the first to pick one out.

• The market has everything you need to pamper yourself as well! Stop by La Dolce Vita and pick up some lavender and soy candles for your bath. Then visit Sara at the San Benito Tea Co. for a relaxing cup of your favorite brew. Don’t for get to indulge in a little sweet morsel from Rebekah’s Culinary Academy. After that, go over to Jeanne’s “Can Do” booth and pick out a soft, cozy blanket to wrap yourself in while you take a quiet slumber. Now does that sound great or what?

• This weekend you will get a special treat as we have our local birdhouse artist, Tim O’Brien from Four Feathers coming to join us. Tim is very supportive of our local market and loves to share his creations. If you are looking for that unique item for your yard or home, check it out!

• I hope you still have room for tomatoes. Seasons Color Farm has just enough to make it to the end of the market. They have been selling out of all their squash and even okra which is now at the end of its season. Seasons Color Farm brings in their produce from their local property here in Gilroy and share their love of heirloom tomatoes with you.

• Last chance to get your supply of local honey from the market. UVAS Gold Honey will be there this Sunday only. Pick up a couple of those beeswax candles too!