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Photograph by Chad Pilster
Francisco Resendiz prepares fruit to sell to his many customers at the farmers market at Saratoga High School.
Going to Market
Saratogans flock to Saratoga High School on Saturday mornings
Summer is finally in full swing around the Bay Area and in Saratoga, and that means three things: School's out, it's warm--finally--and the Saratoga farmers' market has some of the best fruit and vegetables available in the area.
This summer marks the market's fourth year in operation in its current location at the Saratoga High School parking lot. The market operates each Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
"The community really embraces the farmers' market," organizer Doug Hayden said. "It really fits in well with Saratoga."
Fresh Fun: More photos from the Saratoga Farmers' Market.
According to Hayden, co-owner of the California Farmers' Markets Association, fruit and veggies are just now ripe for the picking, thanks to an unusually late growing season. Hayden and his wife, Gail, organize about 10 markets in various communities throughout the Bay Area, including the large Mountain View market that takes place each Sunday.
A stroll through the market on the weekend reveals an array of great fruit, including cherries, nectarines and peaches, as well as tons of fresh flowers. Summer vegetables are on their way as well, and Hayden says we can expect a good batch of corn this summer.
The Haydens started privately organizing farmers' markets in the Bay Area after Gail worked for the state under Gov. Jerry Brown, who pioneered legislation to provide access to fresh, farm-picked fruit and vegetables direct from the growers.
Doug Hayden said that Brown was appalled that, at the time, farmers could be arrested for selling their goods on the roadside direct to consumers, so the governor established the Certified Farmers' Markets organization, a state-run certification system to register farmers and create venues for them to sell at.
That same system is in effect today, except that private companies like the Haydens' run the markets now. Today, Hayden said, there are more than 400 certified markets in the state.
Doug Hayden also said the markets are a great place to buy organic vegetables and fruit, because the growers undergo stringent regulation from either a private certification provider, or the state's. Both hold high standards against the use of pesticides and inorganic fertilizers, so consumers can be sure they're getting produce that is chemical-free.
And all that produce is relatively local, too. Each grower that sells at the farmers' market comes from within about a 150-mile radius. Most of the organics come from Happy Boy Farms in Santa Cruz, and many of the vegetables are grown in southern Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties, as well as Monterey County.
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Saratoga, California Since 1975
