Supes' mouths water over farmers market

Glenn County supervisors called the Certified Farmers Market to debut this summer a welcome addition to the county and indicated they will personally shop at the markets set to rotate between Orland and Willows.

The market opens June 5 in Orland's Library Park, market coordinator Claudia Street said during Tuesday's board meeting.

Then it will move to Memorial Park in Willows during July and back to Orland in August, she said. It ends in September in Willows.

The market will run each Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and include produce grown by local growers in Glenn and surrounding counties.

It also will include crafts, prepared foods like jams and jellies or pies and cakes and other products approved by the farmers' market association, Street said.

Street said she has been working with Glenn County's agricultural commissioner to get the market going since it certifies county farmers' operations by inspecting their properties to see they are growing whatever fruits, nuts or vegetables, flowers, etc. they are going to sell.

She also has contacted area school districts to promote healthy eating campaigns and participation, Street said.

Information about the farmers' market is linked to Glenn County's Web site, she said, and vendor applications are available on the Glenn County Resource Conservation District's site.

Glenn County RCD obtained a two-year U.S. Department of Agriculture grant to start the market, Street said, which is why she is coordinating it at this time.

However, once the grant ends, a marketing association is to take the reins and keep it running, she said. Such a group is being organized now and will work with her through 2011 to make it self sustaining.

In the meantime, at least one church is offering use of its kitchen to prepared food vendors, Street said, since prepared food must be made in a certified kitchen.

The market also will use an assortment of advertising strategies to get the word out, she said.

Board Chairman Steve Soeth suggested the market be promoted through the county's booth at the California State Fair in Sacramento.

"My constituents are excited and so am I," Supervisor John Viegas said. However, he suggested Street contact neighboring residents of Library Park along Fourth, Third and Yolo streets to warn them the area will become crowded on Saturday mornings this summer.

Supervisor Tracey Quarne of Orland said "It is good. I am having no luck growing a garden. I will go there."

Street added opening day ceremonies are planned in each community when the market debuts.

All vendors must be approved by the marketing committee and provide certification their products are grown here or in the counties where they live. Those with prepared foods or crafts must also provide proof they are involved in the products' production and show they have the proper permits to sell their wares at either the county, state or city level, Street said.

For more information, call 934-4601, ext. 126.

Contact Rick Longley at 934-6800 or rlongley@tcnpress.com.