Strong opening day
Vendors pleased with crowd that was also buying
There were plenty of smiles as the Porterville Tuesday Farmers Market made its annual return in the Sierra View Medical Center’s shaded parking lot.
Four years ago, Sierra View Medical Center spearheaded the effort behind the Farmers Market and has kept it going with the help of the City of Porterville and the Visalia Famers Market.
Porterville Farmers Market Manager Angie Warkentin, who is also manager of the Visalia Farmers Market, was grinning from ear to ear Tuesday as there were still more than 100 people at the market shortly before wrapping up at 11:30 a.m.
From her vantage point, this was the best opening since its inception.
“Really big turnout, by eyeballing it, I’d say a bigger turnout than last year,” she said. “Especially with our EBT shoppers. We probably trippled what we had last year shopping with EBT. We really like to see that.”
Warkentin explained the increase was the result of being part of the Market Match grant program that allows the market to double EBT dollars spent up to $10.
“If they come here and want to spend $10, we give them a bonus $10 and they are able to shop with $20,” Warkentin said. “It’s great.”
The Farmers Market also accepts WIC, and SVMC’S Healthy Bucks, 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 all there were 13 vendors and another six community booths in the east parking lot at Sierra View, both numbers are increases over 2017.
Warkentin said the Farmers Market opened later in the season than usual due to the cool spring.
“We started the season a bit later this year so we could have more vendors,” Warkentin said. “Berries and stone fruit, everything is a few weeks late this year because we had such a cool spring, so pushing back the market we were able to open with it being nice and full and having all of the summer favorites.”
Vendors were also smiling due to the turnout and that people were spending money.
Safe Haven Sustainable Farms of Orosi was busy throughout the day selling its heirloom vegatables, including a white scallop squash that drew people to the table.
“It’s been a good market, we love the Porterville market, everyone is so friendly,” said Nathan Thomas, farm manager with Safe Haven Sustainable Farms.
Thomas said their produce is also open pollenated and they do not use any hybrids or GMOS, but it’s the “funky” look of the heirloom vegetables that hook people.
“It’s varieties that have been around for years,” said Nathan Thomas. “All of our stuff looks a little weird, different, but it tastes amazing. That’s our thing, it looks funky, but everyone likes it. The flavor is amazing.”
The market opens at 8 a.m. each Tuesday and 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.
Next week in addition to the vendors and community booths, the Jedi Academy will be on hand and the following Tuesday, June 19, there will be chalk art contest with prizes for the winners.
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.