Free fresh strawberry shortcake lured many residents to the season opening of the Felton Farmers Market on May 6.
“This is something we only do for the Felton Market,” said Nesh Dhillon, Director of Santa Cruz Community Farmers Markets.
“Make sure to come out and support your local farmers,” he added.
The Felton Farmers Market started in 1987 and is the second oldest market in Santa Cruz County. In 2009, SCCFM took over operations and has since increased the variety of certified organic fruits and vegetables, and artisan foods.
Emily Dietrich, who has attended the Market for the last eight years, said her favorite thing was the fruit.
“There’s a guy who has peaches here and they’re really good, we like to come here and see everyone we know,” she said.
Annie Weicel came with her daughters and said that she really liked the music, which on this day was a trio singing traditional mountain music, like “Wabash Cannonball,” an American folk song from the 1800s. Weicel’s five-year old said her favorite thing was the shaved ice and she liked the rainbow flavor the best because it “has all the colors of the rainbow.”
In fact the shaved ice concession was the biggest draw of the day, while the free shortcake and Penney Ice Creamery’s organic and seasonal ice creams and sorbets were popular as well.
Boulder Creeker residents Maureen and Al Kluska, found a shady stoop to finish off their shaved ices and shortcake, which Al said was the reason he came. Maureen said that she thought it was fun to see all of her neighbors. They moved to the mountains last year from San Jose and agreed, “We really love it.”
Mary Adams from Ben Lomond said she had just passed by on her bike and decided to stop in. Her favorites were the shaved ice and kettle corn, “which I don’t think they have any more.”
Her friend Karin Gallagher from Mount Herman said, “I needed kale and lettuce. I’m going to put olive or avocado oil on my kale and microwave it with pine nuts for less than a minute.”
Esther Vasquez is the doyenne of family-owned Vasquez Farms, who have been in the berry farming business for the last 40 years. They made the switch to organically certified two years ago.
What happens on a typical day on a small berry farm?
“Wake up early,” Vasquez replied.
Berry juice must run in Esther Vasquez’s blood. First starting with her grandfather who came here from Mexico and began sharecropping on a strawberry farm. The family business now includes a next generation of Vasquez grandchildren who are berry people and the family has raspberry, blackberries, and strawberry fields.
Eritrean food debuted this season at the market. The family doesn’t just want to share their food — which tastes similar to Ethiopian fare — they are happy to tell you about the history and culture of their native land. Eritrea has only been independent for the last 20 years because it was colonized by Italy. One member of the youngest generation said her father had fought in the war for independence, which lasted 23 years.
One woman came up to the booth, checked out the menu, and ordered saying, “this is exciting!”
The owner of the operation, a short woman with a head of curly hair and a wide smile, says she orders all her spices from Eritrea. Each Eritrean family has spices that taste different from any other, she added — perhaps like our mother’s Thanksgiving stuffing, which tastes better than any other mother makes.
Next time you are at the Felton Farmer’s Market, check out the exciting world of Eritrea.
Santa Cruz Community Farmers wants to remind you of their Market Match program, which offers farmers market customers an extra $5 when they spend at least $10 with their CalFresh (EBT/SNAP) cards. The match program is available at the Felton and Live Oak markets. The goal of this project is to encourage CalFresh recipients to take advantage of the fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables.
The Market is open every Tuesday until the last Tuesday in Oct. from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m.
