Fans of locally sourced food rejoice: The Scotts Valley Farmers’ Market will be returning for its fifth season next Saturday.
Beginning on Saturday, April 4 — and each following Saturday through November — local farmers, bakers, and restaurateurs will set up outside the Scotts Valley Community Center from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“It’s a neighborhood market,” said Nicole Zahm, education coordinator for the Santa Cruz County Farmers’ Market. “People can bring their kids, they can keep an eye on them from anywhere throughout the market … they’re really appropriate for families to have a really good time.”
In addition to the usual selection of organic vegetables, fruits, herbs, flowers, meats, and baked goods for sale, this year’s farmers’ market will kick off a partnership with the recently established neighboring community garden, the local 4-H, and the Scotts Valley Market to host youth-oriented gardening classes.
Led by Kelly Bradford, owner of Old House Farm, participating children and their families can use the garden and the market for learning, planting, tasting and selling.
“We’re really excited about that project rolling out,” Zahm said. “The garden will definitely be a place that links the local community that is interested in education related to food and the farmers’ market.”
Nesh Dhillon, executive director of the SCCFM, said that the Scotts Valley Farmers’ Market is really focused on supporting and drawing out as many Scotts Valley and San Lorenzo Valley-based growers.
“The growers in that area are quite small and quite artisanal,” he said.
At this season’s market, local farms, such as Stone Meal Farms of Scotts Valley — “a stone’s throw away,” said Dhillon — will have booths alongside Hidden Fortress’ coffee and espresso drinks, fresh fish from Ancient Age, breakfast tacos from Back Porch, and Eritrean cuising from The Red Sea.
“In terms of fresh fruits and vegetables, anything that’s in season will be at the Scotts Valley Farmers’ Market,” Zahm said. “I’d say 95 percent of the farms we work with are organic — nearly 100 percent is certified organic.”
Also returning this year will be the pop-up breakfast, a farm-to-table event that pairs local chefs — this year will feature local chef Kevin Kobel — with the food and produce sold in the market.
“We do a multi-course brunch,” said Dhillon. “It’s quite a scene — imagine a farm dinner, but a farm dinner in the market.”
For more information, about the Scotts Valley Farmers’ Market, visit santacruzfarmersmarket.org.
