October 19, 2007

Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market comes to Evergreen Square

On Sunday, Oct. 21, the Pacific Coast Farmers Market will officially open at Evergreen Square. There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10:30 a.m. featuring Vice Mayor Dave Cortese, Shappell Industries Vice President Kelly Erardi, Involved Evergreen founder Rose Herrera and John Silveria, the farmers’ market’s operations director.

The market had been operating on Sundays only in the Evergreen Branch Library parking lot, but moved to take advantage of the square’s extra room and increased parking. In addition, the market will be open two days per week, Wednesdays and Sundays, offering fruits, vegetables, cut flowers, breads, pastry items and Kettle Corn.
However, it is open to suggestions of foodstuffs from the community. “We would like input from the residents to let us know what they would like to see,” Silveria said.

In addition to the extra day, the market also will be open rain or shine, year-round, Silveria said. It was a seasonal market at the library.

Silveira expressed excitement about the new location. “Evergreen Village is a great place to do a farmers’ market,” he said. “While the recent departure of Lunardi’s Supermarket from Evergreen Village has made it more difficult for local residents to get fresh foods, the Evergreen Farmers’ Market will give residents access to the freshest and best locally-grown fruits and vegetables.”

Silveira hopes the farmers’ market in its new location will soon be a center of community activity in the Evergreen District. “Shapell Industries has created a great community gathering space at Evergreen Village Square,” he said. “We’re hoping the farmers’ market will attract even more local residents to come out and enjoy this beautiful space.”

Shappell Industries was instrumental in bringing the farmers market to the square area in hopes of generating additional foot traffic for the retail stores, said Erardi. “A farmers’ market is a gathering place for the community. It will be in the park area, around the fountain so that people have room to walk around,” he added.

Silveria is quite pleased by the move because it will allow more business for the market—some people complained about the lack of parking at the library, he said. In addition, he loves the setting. “There’s more parking and a beautiful park like setting. The views of the hills there are incredible,” he said.

The Evergreen Farmers’ Market has proven to be a big success this year, consistently drawing over 1,000 shoppers each Sunday at the library. It is operated by the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association, in partnership with the office of Vice Mayor Dave Cortese. With the market’s move to Evergreen Village, Shapell Industries has signed on as a sponsor of the farmers’ market.

The Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association is the state’s largest operator of Certified Farmers’ Markets, with over 40 Certified Farmers’ Markets weekly in the Bay Area during the peak summer months. Certified Farmers’ Markets are locations that offer only California-grown products sold directly to consumers by the farmers that grew, nurtured and harvested the crops. All PCFMA markets accept EBT (the Golden State advantage food stamp cards).

For more information on the Evergreen Farmers’ Markets, contact the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association at (800) 949-FARM, (925) 825-9090, or go to www.pcfma.com.