With live music echoing through the Gilroy City Hall plaza, the Gilroy Farmer’s Market kicked off its third year of providing healthy, local products and a family-friendly atmosphere.
The Gilroy Farmer’s Market runs Saturdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through Nov. 23 in the City Hall parking lot near the intersection of Rosanna Street and Seventh Street. Theresa and Ian Webb, the market’s new directors, recently stepped forward to lead the Gilroy Farmers Market for its third year.
“We had a lot of people,” Theresa said. “It was really wonderful to see the turnout and see how impressed people were.”
Three vendors completely sold out Saturday likely because of heavy traffic from residents attending Saturday’s “Coffee with the Mayor” event at the City Council Chambers and from people visiting the library, Theresa said.
“People see the market while going to the library and the meeting with the mayor,” said Theresa. “The library especially was instrumental in getting us more traffic.”
The new location for the market, which last year was located on the corner of Monterey and Seventh streets, allows shoppers to relax and hang out in the plaza and on the grass around the market, which makes the venue a place for the community instead of solely a place to shop, Theresa noted.
“People kept coming up to me to tell me how much they love the new location,” she said. “The farmer’s market’s location next to the library creates a great connection between community education and healthy eating.”
The Webbs are hoping for more growth and community involvement. The market’s volunteers decided the new, more central location would help this, Theresa said.
“With most farmer’s markets taking three to five years to see growth, I really appreciate our volunteers and my predecessors Catalina Ventura and Kersty Daniels,” Theresa added. “They did a huge service to the community and have put a lot of work into the market.”
The ambiance of the new location was reinforced by the tunes of local musician Janet Thompson. The Webb’s want to promote a grassroots, community-focused atmosphere at the farmer’s market. Theresa said they want to support locals and would enjoy having Thompson perform again.
“The audience loved her, children and people loved it and said they want her to return,” Theresa added.
The farmer’s market currently has 20 vendors selling fruits, vegetables and prepared food. Of those vendors, 11 vendors are considered local, offering produce from the Gilroy, Hollister, Morgan Hill, San Juan Bautista and Watsonville areas. The others are all from within a close radius to Gilroy, Theresa added.
“(The number of vendors) was the perfect amount because they started getting sold out,” Theresa said. “Hummus Heaven and the organic strawberries sold a lot and the Rebekah Culinary Academy baked goods were very popular with children.”
In the coming weeks, the farmer’s market will soon offer Mexican food, seasonal produce and the fan favorite, kettle corn. Theresa said cherries and strawberries are now in season and anyone can find the current seasonal offerings on the farmer’s markets website. “If you want to get these fresh and local, get them now,” she added.
