I saw a mention in today's paper about the opening of the Clovis farmers market. I live in Clovis and love the farmers market, but I just have one question: Why can't they start it a few weeks earlier and run it a little later into the fall? As it is, it runs through the hottest part of the year here.
Many Friday nights, it seems like a fun thing to do, but I just don't want to be outside in that miserable heat (to me, anything over 85 is miserable and I just don't do 100-plus degrees).
The farmers market in San Luis Obispo, which I visited last week while I was over there, runs every Thursday night of the year except for Thanksgiving and very rainy nights. I would love to stroll the streets of Old Town Clovis, listening to live music, watching my daugther dance and smelling all the vendors' delicious foods on a breezy April or cool(er) October evening.
I think a year-round Farmer's Market is a great idea!
The Clovis Farmer's Market is put on by BOOT - the Business Organization of Old Town. Its Clovis' downtown association and it operates on a very limited budget.
BOOT would love to expand the market too but that would require hiring a market manager which would cost about $20,000 to $25,000 per year (its on our wish list).
The other problem is that Clovis' farmer's market is a certified farmer's market which means that all the produce sold by a farmer is grown by that farmer. When the growing season is over, there is nothing to sell. So past harvest time there wouldn't be any produce.
I love San Luis' farmers market too - we used to live there and when we moved to Clovis we were so excited to find out Clovis had one too. I'm the President of the BOOT board of directors this year so I would love to hear back with comments and suggestions on farmers market.