Fresh cherries change hands at opening night of the new West Sacramento Farmers Market, operating on Thursday evenings at 1271 West Capitol Avenue. (NEWS-LEDGER PHOTO)
News-Ledger May 25, 2011
By
Steve Marschke News-Ledger
Editor
There
were a lot of smiles in the crowd as hundreds of locals converged on opening
day of the new West Sacramento Farmers Market on Thursday. Shoppers had a
chance to buy fresh tomatoes, cherries, mushrooms, bread, apple juice, steaks,
and a lot more – straight from the folks who grew them or made them.
Visitors
could also pick up some strawberry shortcake, hot dogs, Indian food or other
ready-to-eat chow from several vendors at the West Capitol Avenue site, or just
sit and tap their toes to the tunes of Mike McGowan and the Mighty Delta
Roadmasters on stage live.
CINDY TUTTLE (a former mayor of West Sacramento) delivers vocals for 'Mike McGowan and the Mighty Delta Roadmasters' on stage at the market. Geoff Goodman is on harmonica, and McGowan (the city's county supervisor) is at left on the drums.
NEWS-LEDGER PHOTO
Several vendors told the News-Ledger that it was a promising start for
the new market.
“For
the first day, it’s been great,” said Andrew Tescher of Lucky Dog Ranch.
Tescher was selling meat products in a booth shared with Jocelyn Brooks of
Cache Creek Meat Company, who offered Cornish game hens and other poultry.
Len
Strickland, president of the Rotary Club of West Sacramento, praised the
chamber of commerce, which organized the market.
“This
is awesome,” said Strickland. “This is a lot of pent-up frustration you see
here. People have been waiting for this to happen,” he added, gesturing at the
crowds around him.
“Kudos
to Denice (Seals, the chamber C.E.O.) and her staff.”
Commented Heather Moore on the News-Ledger’s Facebook page:
“I
was quite impressed. It will be nice to watch the market grow each week. I look
forward to many more trips and hopefully more venders. And maybe a few more
bike racks.”
Vendors Andrew Tescher and Jocelyn Brooks told the News-Ledger that it was a good first day for sales, and that they plan to return to the West Sacramento market
(NEWS-LEDGER PHOTO)
The crowd relaxes near the bandstand
TWO CUSTOMERS: Armando Omega & Len Strickland, who are the presidents of the city's two chapters of the Rotary Club
(NEWS-LEDGER PHOTO)
Said
organizer Denice Seals, on Facebook:
“Now
that Mother Nature is co-operating, I'm looking forward to the market expanding
every week as production increases!”
Opening day featured about 30 vendors on the site on West Capitol Avenue near city hall. The
market returns from 4:30 p.m. to dusk Thursday at the lot behind Walgreens.
