By Carolyn Leal
Saratoga's Farmers Market, which has operated for two seasons, May through September, at the junction of Los GatosSaratoga Road and Big Basin Way, will not return this season.
Co-owner Melanie Defe said the reason the market has abandoned Saratoga is simple: "The farmers just didn't make enough money. They were straight with us. They said, as a group, they didn't want to return because not that many people turned out."
The Saratoga Farmers Market was hailed by local merchants as a way to revitalize business in downtown Saratoga, and many were disappointed that the market would not be coming back.
"I'm very disappointed," said Sheila Arthur, executive director of the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce. "I thought it was a wonderful community thing, and I loved it. On Saturday morning, people were visiting and shopping. It was a great asset for Saratoga."
Bill Cooper, owner of Bella Saratoga restaurant and a member of the city's Business Development Council, said there is an effort under way to see if another farmers market might be interested in coming to town. "We're going to see if other organizers would like to pick it up," he said.
The Saratoga Farmers Market drew about 20 to 25 farmers who sold fresh produce, bread, fish and specialty foods.Defe and Suellen Sterling also operate the Los Gatos Farmers Market year-round on Sundays. The success and proximity of the larger Los Gatos market may have adversely affected the Saratoga market, Defe said. "Los Gatos might have something to do with it. On Sunday, it's the place to go."
The two women started the Los Gatos Farmers Market five years ago with no prior experience. "We wanted to eat fresh produce, and we didn't want to drive to Palo Alto," Defe said.
They expanded to Saratoga two years ago. They were not paid a promotional fee by either city. "We did it as a community service," Defe said.
This article appeared in the Saratoga News, March 26, 1997.
©1997 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.