Market News

July 4th BBQ at Aptos Farmers Market Helps Send Foster Kids to Camp

On Saturday, July 4th, after you purchase your red strawberries, white peaches and blueberries, buy everyone in the family a delicious, hot-off-the-grill hot dog and support the Foster Parent Association of Santa Cruz County. Representatives from this dedicated non-profit will be grilling and selling hot dogs at the Aptos Farmers Market from 8am to noon. 100% of the funds raised will be used to send as many Santa Cruz County foster children as possible to a summer of fun at a local camp.

These aren’t your run-of-the-mill hot dogs! One of our most popular vendors, Corralitos Market & Sausage Company, is donating the hot dogs! A vegetarian hot dog will also be available. In addition, Malabar Trading Company will be donating beverages, Southern Style Sweet Tea and Hibiscus Cooler, and donating 10% of the day's sales at their booth to support the camp program. And, there is a VERY special Mystery Guest who will be pitching in to help grill the hot dogs—stop by and say hello!

Thank you for supporting this effort by having brunch or lunch at the market. You'll find the Foster Parents Association Table by the Catering Magik. A heart-felt thanks goes out to the organizers of this effort, especially Cynthia Jordan, a board member of the Foster Parents Association of Santa Cruz County, Corralitos Market and Malabar Trading Company.

There are nearly 1,000,000 children in foster care in America. 97,000+ are children in foster care in California, and 350+ children are in foster care in Santa Cruz County. Like every other social service agency in this country, foster children’s agencies, both public and private, have been hit hard by the current economic meltdown. Money is always scarce for the basics: medical and dental care, clothing, educational support, and therapy to address the many issues that surface when a child has been abused or abandoned from day one of life.

New Market at Del Monte Center Opens with Fanfare

On Sunday, June 28, we launched a new farmers market at the Del Monte Shopping Center in Monterey next to Whole Foods Market with a ribbon cutting, refreshments, and live music by the Farmers Market String Band. Catering Magik, who sells fresh baked goodies at all of our markets, supplied the delicious cake, and Whole Foods contributed the coffee.

It couldn’t have been a more perfect, sunshine-filled Sunday morning. Kay and her daughter attached colorful helium filled balloons to each tent while vendors busily arranged their produce and wares. Within an hour, the Whole Foods parking lot was transformed into a welcoming festive event! The excitement was palpable as curious early customers roamed the aisles exclaiming. “Wow, this is great!” or “We’re so excited to have a Sunday market!” The Farmers Market String Band struck up the first chords of their familiar blue grass sounds, and we were in business—running like clockwork.

With over 25 vendors, the farmers market will be open from 8am to noon from June 28th through October.

“The Del Monte Shopping Center is delighted to host one of the Monterey Bay Certified Markets, the premier farmers market organization on the Central Coast,” said Jill Vivanco, General Manager of the shopping center. Catherine Barr, Executive Director of the MBCFM, said, “It’s wonderful to have the backing of Whole Foods and the Del Monte Shopping Center. This will be a great neighborhood market where people will meet friends and get to know the outstanding farmers and vendors who work very hard to supply us with high quality, fresh foods. It will be a great place to have the community come together every Sunday.”

Watch the slideshow video of the market opening >

Kay Gatanaga is New Assistant Market Manager

You know Kay — she is the smiling face at the Gatanaga Nursey booth at our markets in Monterey and Carmel, selling beautiful roses, alstromeiria, and colored calla lilies. She is now assisting Executive Director and Market Manager, Catherine Barr, with the operations of MBCFM markets at all four of our markets starting in July.

“I am delighted to have Kay’s assistance to keep the markets running smoothly. Since she was a girl, Kay has been involved in the family nursery business so understands that side of the organization. And she is great with customers!” said Barr.

Kay's role involves helping setting up for events, helping vendors, and answering market customers’ questions. She will continue to oversee the Gatanaga Nursery booth at three markets where other family members will help with sales. “I’m going to enjoy my new role helping Catherine, and becoming more involved with the markets and the organization. I really enjoy interacting with people and helping out,” she said.

First Summer Art Fair on June 6 at Aptos Market Features Watercolorist Bonni Carver

Three art exhibits are planned this year at the Aptos Farmers Market featuring local artists: June 6, August 1, and September 5.

On June 6, you will be treated to the still life studies, landscapes, seascapes, portraits and character studies by watercolorist Bonni Carver and adult art students. Art work will also be for sale.

Bonni has taken classes at the Academy of Art and the Art Institute in San Francisco and studied watercolor in Provence, France during 1996 with Barbara Nechis. Her experience in France led to a yearlong painting odyssey throughout Western Europe which provided Bonni with a rich portfolio of work.

An Open Studio participant in Santa Cruz County, Bonni has participated in numerous juried shows in the Central Coast and the San Francisco Bay Area. Her work can be found in homes in England, Holland, Switzerland, and Norway as well as in New York and San Francisco. Bonni is also a popular teacher of watercolor. She welcomes appointments at her Watsonville studio and is available for commissions. Visit her website at http://carverart.com/about.html.

Grand Opening Celebration for New Market at Del Monte Shopping Center is this month — watch for the special announcement mid-month!

We are very excited to announce that we will be opening a new market at the Del Monte Shopping Center next to Whole Foods Market, just off of Highway 1 and Munras Avenue this month. The Del Monte Farmers Market will be a seasonal market that is open every Sunday from 8 am to 12 pm through October.

Plans are in the works for a grand opening celebration — more details to come!

You will see many of your favorite Monterey Bay Certified Farmers Markets’ vendors at the Del Monte Market. Over 40 farmers and vendors will offer a bountiful variety of locally grown produce and specialty items including farm fresh organic eggs, honey, fresh seafood, potted plants, seedlings, fresh cut flowers, fresh baked goods, and specialty teas.

A trip to the Del Monte Farmers Market also provides you with the opportunity to visit a charming mix of local specialty shops and a diverse selection of national retailers, as well as restaurants and the 13-screen Century Theatres. Retailers include Whole Foods, Macy’s, Apple Store, Pottery Barn, Williams-Sonoma, Hollister, Lucky Brand Jeans, Banana Republic, Chico’s, GAP, Lucy, Soma Intimates, White House│Black Market, and Victoria’s Secret.

MBCFM Supports "Grow a Farmer Campaign" to Build Housing for Organic Apprentices at UCSC Farm & Garden

Monterey Bay Certified Farmers Markets is proud to support the Grow a Farmer Campaign. Our financial donation will help fund the building of on-farm housing for apprentices in the world renowned organic training program at UCSC Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems. The creation of housing will provide affordable housing for apprentices while helping to secure the program's future. The goal of the Grow a Farmer Campaign is to raise $250,000.

Over the program’s 41-year-history, more than 1,200 apprentices have been trained at the UCSC Farm and Garden, learning not only how to raise food and flowers, but how to make the food system itself more sustainable by addressing issues of social justice.

To learn more, visit www.growafarmer.org.

Carmel Farmers Market reopens Tuesday, May 12, just in time for cherry season!

Starting Tuesday, May 12, Carmel Farmers Market will be in full swing every Tuesday through September, from 9am to 1pm. This intimate market of 25 farmers and vendors is nestled in the charming Barnyard Shopping Village, conveniently located at the intersection of Route 1 and Carmel Valley Road. In addition to delicious red cherries, you will find a wide assortment of fresh picked produce and many specialty items. Stop by and welcome back our wonderful farmers and vendors who bring you healthy fresh foods for your table!

New Market at Del Monte Shopping Center is Expected to Open Sunday, June 28

We are very excited to announce a new market location at the Del Monte Shopping Center in Monterey! The "Del Monte Market" will be a seasonal market that is open every Sunday from 8 am to 12 pm through October. You will see many of your favorite Monterey Bay Certified Farmers Markets' vendors there — about 40 vendors will offer a large variety of produce and specialty items.

Located at the main artery of Highway 1 and Munras Avenue, the Del Monte Center is a 675,000 square foot, open-air, regional shopping center, and the principal shopping destination on the Monterey Peninsula. It features a charming mix of local specialty shops and a diverse selection of national retailers, as well as restaurants and the 13-screen Century Theatres. Retailers include Whole Foods, Macy's, Apple Store, Pottery Barn, Williams-Sonoma, Hollister, Lucky Brand Jeans, Banana Republic, Chico's, GAP, Lucy, Soma Intimates, White House│Black Market, and Victoria’s Secret.

“Grab Bag Saturdays” to Start in June at Aptos Farmers Market

Do you have a new business or service you’re trying to promote? Are you an artist or an artisan with a high quality, locally produced line of gift items or other goods that are uniquely Santa Cruz? The Monterey Bay Certified Farmers Market is offering local artisans and businesses an opportunity to sell or promote their businesses at the Aptos Farmers Market on Saturdays at Cabrillo College.

Vendor Requirements
The Aptos Farmers market will have 10 – 11 spaces available the third Saturday of each month, starting in June. Spaces will be filled first come, first serve. Here are the details:

  • 10x10 booth space
  • Vendor needs to provide own set up
  • Must be at market by 6:30 am
  • Vendor must off load (no vehicles allowed)
  • Fee of $75 must be paid in advance
  • Vendor may be eligible for space once every 3 months
  • Food vendors must have a health permit from Santa Cruz County Department of Environmental Health. Please call 454.2632 (we will need a copy)
  • Sellers permit where applicable (we will need a copy)
  • No cooking or food preparation on site

Interested? Download and complete the application below and return it to Catherine Barr at MBCFM, PO Box 955, Freedom, CA 95019-0955. Applications can also be dropped off at the Aptos Farmers Markets with market manager. Attach copy of seller’s permit or health permit, if applicable.

pdf Download Application >

Coming This Month: Health & Nutrition Education by Santa Cruz Physician, Rachel Carlton Abrams, MD, MHS

We are very pleased to announce a new partnership Rachel Carlton Abrams, MD, MHS, the founder of the Santa Cruz Integrative Medicine and Chi Center in Santa Cruz. Later this month, we will be launching a new section on our website featuring articles by Dr. Abrams.

“I offer an integrative approach to health and prevention that focuses what on what you can do other than medication — nutrition, exercise, meditation, herbs, supplements, relationships and love — all of these affect your health! In my articles that will appear on this website, I will be emphasizing easy ways to love your body into vibrant health. As a physician, I do, of course, prescribe medication when it is necessary, but many of the conditions most folks struggle with can be treated, at least in part, naturally.”

Some of the topics that Dr. Abrams will be addressing in her articles include: anxiety and sleep, mindful eating, heart disease prevention, blood sugar issues, arthritis, inflammation, cancer prevention, allergies, skin health, mom and baby health, pregnancy, high blood pressure, cholesterol, teen health, school lunches, benefits of organic, and co-toxicology.

For more information about the Integrative Medicine Clinic and Chi Center, please go to our web site:
http://santacruzchicenter.com/intmedicine/

Aptos Farmers Market Featured in National Geographic Guide

Last year, National Geographic invited Capitola resident, Patti Bond, to submit her family’s ten favorite activities in Santa Cruz and Monterey for a new travel guide. Bond is a member of our marketing team and an independent marketing consultant, publicist and writer. “I jumped at the chance to contribute to the book. There are so many great things to do on the Central Coast, it was difficult to whittle down the list to ten, but it was a lot of fun,” she said. A visit to the Aptos Farmers Market is one of Bond's “ten best” list for Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties, which appears on pages 414 and 415 of the new guide along with a photo of the Bond-Beech family. Bond said: “The Aptos Farmers Market at Cabrillo College, which is open year round and offers fresh foods from 80 vendors, is the premier market on the Central Coast. People visiting the Santa Cruz area who come to the market will experience the incredibly rich agricultural bounty of our region.” Some of the other local treasures in Bond’s list are Natural Bridges State Park and the Monarch Butterfly Refuge, Henry Cowell State Park, Roaring Camp Railroad, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Capitola Village and Beach.

Bond and her family moved to Santa Cruz from the Boston area 11 years ago. “It was always my dream to live in California and Santa Cruz is the perfect place for us. We appreciate the colorful and diverse culture of Santa Cruz, the incredible selection of sustainably-grown foods, and the natural beauty of the area.”

Ten Best of Everything – Families, which was distributed to book sellers across the US on March 17, is organized both regionally and thematically. It is a fun to read resource for families on the go, full of ten-best lists, insider tips and advice. Contact your local book store for your copy!

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