Saratoga News

Farmers Market will open anew at Saratoga High on Saturdays

Farmers Markets Assoc. responds to survey results

2,000 visitors predicted

By Michelle Alaimo

The Chamber of Commerce confirmed last week the Saratoga Farmers Market will open July 12 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Saratoga High School's parking lot on Herriman Avenue, off Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road.

"With so much space, it should encourage a bigger market," Sheila Arthur, executive director of the Saratoga Chamber, said.

This year's market will feature about 35 farmers and growers and be three times as large as the last Saratoga farmers market, Gail Hayden, director of the California Farmers Markets Association, said. Pasta from Gene's Quito Market, salmon and three truckloads of fresh flowers will also be sold, Hayden said.

SHS was chosen as the site for the market's return because of its easy access and adequate parking. Unlike past Saratoga farmers markets, "this one has a better potential to work for everyone," Bill Cooper, Saratoga Market Days Committee chairman, said.

Cooper said other farmers markets in Saratoga have been plagued by problems. Last year's, at the corner of Highway 9 and Big Basin Way, led to traffic congestion in the Saratoga Village and a low turnout of farmers and growers, according to Cooper.

"I'm saddened, as a downtown merchant, but realistically, the farmers market did not work downtown," Cooper said.South Bay Farmers Market owners Melanie Defe and SuEllen Sterling, whose company ran previous Saratoga markets, decided to pull out of Saratoga earlier this year because, Defe said, the bad traffic and parking made for slow sales.

Hoping not to encounter the same problems, the California Farmers Market Association, which now runs the market along with 18 other markets in the Bay Area, mailed a survey in April to residents asking where they would like the event held.

The association received 38 percent of the surveys back, the highest amount ever received by the organization. The No. 1 location choice among residents was West Valley College and the No. 2 choice, by only two votes, Saratoga High.

Hayden said they will have to pay a small fee to SHS for use of the parking lot each Saturday morning, but the fee covers what it costs to use the garbage containers, and the Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District makes no money from the fee.

Hayden said she expects about 2,000 people to visit the market each Saturday.

"It is becoming increasingly important to have a local farmers market at your fingertips so that you know who grew the food," Hayden said.

The association plans to have large signs by the side of the road so people can find the market easily.

Although the market is getting off to a late start, Hayden said right now is the peak of the season.

"We just want it to be an event that works for Saratoga and benefits the businesses of Saratoga," Cooper said.

For information about what will be offered at the market, residents can call 1-800-806-FARM.

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