Coastside Farmers’ Market 2011 Pre-ramble

I am relieved to report that I picked up the Market Certification for the season this afternoon and so have it in hand nearly two full weeks before Opening Day!  A Record! Whoo Hoo. There are still several more bits and pieces to put in place over the next two weeks, so while I am figuring out some of those delicious details, I want to get a few Hot Dates on your calendars for the season ahead.

If things continue to go according to plan, why then The Coastside Farmers’ Market opens for the season at 2:30 on Wednesday, May 4th in Rockaway Beach, Pacifica. Mayor Mary Ann Nihart will be on hand to chat with the eager throngs and to ring the Opening Day bell, made for us specially by our own Silvio Modena.  Nancy Hall takes the opening day stage, so lucky you, Pacifica!

The Half Moon Bay Season Opener follows at 9 AM on May 7th,  Assemblyman Jerry Hill will be on hand to do the honors and give the bell a rousing jingle, and stay on to mingle and (one hopes) to pick up some gorgeous groceries, including ( yay!)  pastured eggs, certified organic vegetable starts for home gardens, fresh fish right outta the Half Moon Bay harbor, world famous goats cheese, the seasons’ first berries, iconic artichokes, and loads of gorgeous and nutri-full green greens galore. The truly talented Taylor Brown will lend the PA to ASM Hill for a few moments, then sing to you sweetly while you stroll through the strawberries, spring salad greens, sweet peas. Oh yes.

I’d hate you to miss any of the scoops or hoopla we have in store for you in this, our 9th season.  Yep 9th.  I am not counting 2002, the experiment year when we were only open once a month at the south end of Main Street. We remain so grateful to Paul & Julie Shenkman - now of Sam’s Chowderhouse - for taking the leap of faith way back then that helped establish the Coastside Farmers’ Market, and for their continued support as sponsors ever since. We continue to applaud the Carrubba Family for keeping the welcome mat out for us at Shoreline Station for another season.  It’s rather a huge leap of faith, and I am still tickled to have such a safe, pretty accessible location to present this Market for lo these many years.

All of your Local Favorites plan to return this season, plus we have been working on bringing a few fresh additions to each location this year. I’ll tell you about a couple of them now,  and save a few surprises for the weeks ahead.  Ready? 

This winter I began working with a collection of independent bee-keepers to form the San Mateo County Beekeepers Coop and so finally there will be truly LOCAL honey every week at BOTH locations from hives that are kept on the Coast or within San Mateo County. Sweet. A couple of those hives are on my place, delighting in the heritage apple blossoms that are just now popping open.

The Achadinha Cheese Company joins the Pacifica Market this season.  Oh my, am I going to be living the dream, crumbling bits of Capricious, named one of Saveurs “50 favorite cheeses in the United States” over some local leeks, sauteed until just soft, tossed with the littlest bit of lemon juice, and plopped onto a piece of toasted sprouted grain bread.  A lovely repast for you gluten-free folks to enjoy, as we also have a new baker specializing in the G-Free products many patient Pacificans have been clamoring for. 

SAVE THE DATE: The Coastside Farmers’ Market in Half Moon Bay is sponsoring a blood drive on Saturday, May 28 from 9-2 pm in honor of Memorial Day. So you’ll have 3 full weeks of fresh blueberries & Coastside spinach to fortify your blood and bolster your spirits and your red blood cells. Plus Santiago will be back this year, and he’ll give you a tangerine and a song to perk you up after your donation!  The BloodMobile will be available until 2 pm, so go on and make an appointment to donate.

THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR BUSHEL to all our sponsors, and especially to the good folks at Toque Blanche for the support that will make efforts like blood drives, bicycle drives and food drives possible and practical this season, and to pals at New Leaf Community Markets for their support of the Community Events Table, another New Add to the Coastside Farmers Market for 2011!

AND - GRAZIE, Mille Grazie to those folks who renewed their Friends of the Farmers Market membership early.  It sure did help when the insurance bill showed up yesterday!

See you ( soon) at the Market!

Erin Tormey
Founder, Manager
Coastside Farmers’ Markets
May - December