Saratoga News

Saratoga News file photograph

A shopper at last year's farmers market fills a bag with lettuce.

Business people seek another farmers market for Saratogans

Survey questions citizens about what they want

By Sarah Lombardo

Just weeks after the news that the Saratoga Farmers Market would be no more, the Saratoga Market Days Committee, a business development group, has announced that another farmers market group might be coming to Saratoga.

The California Farmers Markets Association, based in Concord, is in the process of sending out surveys at a cost of about $1,000 to approximately 500 homes throughout Saratoga, and the answers to the survey could mean another market in Saratoga starting in May.

"The results of the survey will determine whether [the California Farmers Markets Association] comes to Saratoga and where it will be located," said Bill Cooper, owner of Bella Saratoga in the Village and a member of the Saratoga Business Development Council.

Cooper said the Market Days Committee and the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce teamed up to find a market to replace South Bay Farmers Market, whose owners announced last month that they would not be returning to Saratoga because the weekly event just wasn't drawing a large enough crowd.

Cooper said everyone is concerned with making sure the same doesn't happen with this farmers market.

"It was a great social day, but unfortunately in our format, we weren't getting many buyers," Cooper said.

Both Cooper and Pat Andreson, president of the Chamber of Commerce, said they thought the market was an important community event.

"People are telling us they are disappointed to hear it's leaving," Cooper said.

"I think it's a real asset for Saratogans and Saratoga business," said Andresen. "I think that the neatest thing about it is not only the wonderful fruits and vegetables but the community togetherness."

According to Cooper, the survey being sent to residents will help Market Days members choose a market location and day that will work for residents and attract the most people. The survey asks such questions as these: "Which day do you prefer to attend the Saratoga Farmers Market?" "In addition to fruits and vegetables, what three items would you prefer?" And "How often do you attend the Saratoga Farmers Market?" The questionnaire also asks residents to indicate which location for the event they would prefer: Highway 9 and Saratoga Avenue, near Saratoga High School, near Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road and Prospect, West Valley College or others.

Cooper said the survey is a good way to make sure future farmers markets do well.

"[The California Farmers Markets Association] has found from experience that when they follow the survey results, they are successful," Cooper said.

"I think this one will be more successful because they have more people to draw on," Andresen said.

But, Cooper said, choosing a location may not be made any easier with the survey.

"The problem with location is that sometimes the day and the place don't always match up," he said.

Cooper said the committee and CFMA need surveys back by the end of the month and hope to have chosen a location and a day in time to begin the market by mid to late May.