El Mercado Farmers’ Market Returns
Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley’s (CHT) El Mercado Farmers’ Market will reopen on April 18, 2023, for its third season. El Mercado is a California‐ certified, seasonal, and health‐centric farmers’ market aimed at reducing food insecurity and chronic illness.
Located at Ramsay
Park in Watsonville, El Mercado is more than just a farmers’ market; it intentionally increases access to fresh produce, nutrition information, wellness resources and referrals to social services for residents in the Pajaro Valley. El Mercado features organic and conventional agricultural vendors, ready-to-eat foods, local artisans, events for the whole family, as well as health-promoting services like health screenings, cooking demos, vaccine clinics, and a variety of community resources in partnership with local nonprofits.
El Mercado offers several incentive programs funded by state agencies to subsidize the cost of produce for low-income consumers, including CalFresh. El Mercado is also the main redemption site for VeggieRx, CHT’s produce prescription program that provides free fruits and vegetables to individuals experiencing food insecurity and diet-related illnesses. Local residents in the tri-county area who are Medi-Cal recipients, have a diet-related illness, and are facing food insecurity are eligible to register for the VeggieRx program where they receive a weekly $20 voucher for fresh produce. Program participants also receive health-conscious recipes and are enrolled in a series of health and nutrition classes provided by CHT’s Diabetes Health Center.
With grant funding, Community Health
Trust plans to build the long-term organizational capacity of El Mercado by doubling the foot traffic, increasing VeggieRX participants, increasing the number of agricultural producers and average gross sales over a three-year period. The proposed strategies of growth are focused on sustainability so CHT can continue to address the needs of Pajaro Valley residents experiencing food insecurity and access to healthy food.
Please join us for season three of El Mercado at Ramsay Park in Watsonville, every Tuesday from 2:006:00 PM, April – October 2023!
Now accepting vendor applications for the 2023 season! Local farmers, artists, and food vendors are welcome at El Mercado. Vendor benefits include digital marketing promotion on CHT’s platforms, walk-up/bike traffic, and recurring customers through CHT’s VeggieRx program. Contact Liz Medina, CHT’s Programs Associate - Health Collaboratives, at lmedina@pvhealthtrust.org or (831) 726-4264 for more details.
To enroll in the VeggieRx
program, contact CHT’s Community Health Worker, Ofelia Garcia at ogarcia@pvhealthtrust. org or (831) 732-5397 for more information.
About Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley
Founded in 1998 and serving the tri-county area, Community Health Trust (CHT ) is recognized for its leadership as a convener in the South Santa Cruz County area. CHT is motivated to foster an equitable Pajaro Valley with health, wellness and a full quality of life for all through access to resources, activities, and choices that help prevent illness and improve quality of life.