Summer Farmers Market opens today
Sierra View and city are co-hosts
Four years ago Sierra View Medical Center jumpstarted a Farmers Market in Porterville. Today, that market returns again for the summer.
Sierra View is again partnering with the City of Porterville. The market, offering fresh fruits and vegetables, will be held in the hospital’s parking lot until July 10, then it will move downtown on July 17 and continue on Main Street in front of City Hall until Aug. 21.
Again, the Farmers Market is being coordinated by the Visalia Farmers Market which is organizing the many vendors who will offer fresh fruit, vegetables and more every Tuesday from 8 a.m. until 11:30 a.m.
Angie Warkentin, manager of the Visalia Farmers Market, said they expect between 12 to 16 certified farmers at each farmers market event from Tulare, Kings and Fresno counties. She said there should also be between
five to eight artisan and prepared food vendors.
There will be an area at each event for community groups and nonprofit organizations.
All of the vendors are certified that they grow what they put out.
As far as what residents can buy at the farmers market, Warkentin said stone fruits such as apricots, peaches, nectarines
and cherries should be ripe, as well as tomatoes and some berries. As the season goes on and it gets hotter, the market will also offer melons and corn among other food.
Warkentin said one new thing the market will offer this year are baked goods such as cupcakes and cookies.
To help shoppers stretch their dollar,
Warkentin said the market will accept EBT, WIC, and SVMC’S Healthy Bucks.
“We are also a part of the Market Match Program, which is a grant program that allows us to double EBT dollars spent at the farmers market up to $10,” Warkentin said. “It is a very affordable way of purchasing local fresh fruits and veggies.”
Warkentin said the market will also accept Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) vouchers, which she said is a $20 booklet of vouchers that can only be used at farmers markets for fresh fruit and vegetables by seniors over the age of 60. She said SFMNP vouchers will be handed out on June 5, June 12 and June 19.
In addition to food, Porterville’s farmers market will also have games and activities for kids to participate in.
Organizations wanting to participate in the farmers market events can fill out an application at visaliafarmersmarket.com or call the Visalia Farmers Market at 730-6021.