First farmers market set

Plumas Lake residents might not have a grocery store yet, but at least on Saturday mornings through October, they'll have fresh fruits and vegetables.

The south Yuba County community will host its first farmers market this weekend, and organizer Dan Silva said interest will determine how big it gets in weeks to come.

"You don't jump into something like this in a big way," said Silva, who manages a weekly farmers market in Yuba City. "If we sell out early Saturday, then we'll know to bring in more next week."

The market's first week will have six to seven vendors, Silva said, including vegetables from area Hmong farmer consortiums, locally grown fruit and bread from Great Harvest Bread Co.

In later weeks, he said, he hopes to add pizza and coffee vendors, eggs, flowers and expanded offerings of fresh fruits and vegetables. The market, from 8 a.m. to noon, will be Saturdays through the end of October at Eufay Wood Sr. Memorial Park in Plumas Lake.

"I'm feeling like it will be as big as Yuba City's market eventually," said Silva. That market has nearly 30 vendors on Saturdays, and will soon add Sunday hours. Marysville hosts a downtown farmers market on Friday evenings.

Silva said he tried a farmers market in Olivehurst some years ago, but there wasn't enough interest to sustain it.

The housing boom in south Yuba County since then, with many new residents used to shopping at farmers markets around Sacramento, gives this one a better chance, he said.

Yuba County Supervisor Mary Jane Griego, whose district includes Plumas Lake, said organizers Dan and Candace Silva tested the waters by asking residents in an online forum months ago about a farmers market.

"We wanted to see the response, and all indications were 'yes, we want this,'" Griego said.

She added she believes residents in Arboga and Olivehurst are also likely to visit the market. "This is a market where you don't have to cross any bridges," she said.

Friends Rachel Bencheck and Jennifer Gold of Plumas Lake fit the shoppers that Silva is looking for.

As they relaxed on a sunny day at Wood Park on Thursday, Bencheck said she'd researched where the nearest farmers market could be found when she moved to the area five years ago.

"I think it's going to be really positive for the community," said Bencheck, who moved from Rio Linda. "I'm really excited for it."

Gold said she hopes the market eventually has a booth for fresh flowers, and Bencheck suggested a vendor selling Mexican food might also do well.

Both also guessed the market will become a popular gathering place for neighbors in Plumas Lake, where many residents are already friendly with each other because the neighborhood is relatively isolated from elsewhere.

Yuba County Agriculture Commissioner Louie Mendoza said given a relative lack of retail in the area, Plumas Lake is likely to embrace the market.

"They have some grocery stores nearby, but this is a good opportunity to buy locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables," he said. "Something like this will really flourish."

KNOW AND GO

• What: Plumas Lake Certified Farmer's Market

• When: Saturdays, 8 a.m. to noon, through October 31.

• Where: Eufay Wood Sr. Memorial Park in Plumas Lake

Contact Appeal-Democrat reporter Ben van der Meer at 749-4709 or bvandermeer@appealdemocrat.com.