REEDLEY – Although a near three-year run on the local farmers market at Reedley College is coming to a close, the city is already working to expand its place-making efforts with a new series of weekend outings.
In the consent agenda of the Aug. 25 regular meeting, the Reedley City Council approved an agreement with the California Fresh Farmers Market Association to bring a new series of weekend farmers markets to Pioneer Park. Community Development Director Rodney Horton said the first market is scheduled for the evening of Sept. 19, with the goal of having one nearly every Saturday for about a year.
CFFMA is known for its work in organizing the River Park, Tower District and Woodward farmers markets, all of which have become community staples in Fresno.
“With a market like this, it’s really about bringing that big city experience into a small town,” said Horton in an interview. “People should be able to enjoy those amenities without having to travel far, or go through extensive traffic to get up to Fresno or down to Visalia, especially as gas prices are north of $5 a gallon.”
The idea for these new Saturday markets stemmed from conversations between the city and Sierra Kings Health Care District about how to expand upon the Reedley College Farmers Market, which as of now will not be continuing in the seasons to come. While these discussions were taking place, the CFFMA reached out to the district hoping to continue the farmers markets, and from there the district connected them with the city so that the two entities could plan the new series.
In an interview, SKHCD CEO Chinayera Black Hardaman shared that the USDA grant that has funded the Reedley College markets for the last few years has now run out, but the district still aims to support the city and CFFMA by committing some dollars to support the upcoming weekend farmers markets.
“I think at the federal level, there’s been kind of a change in priorities around some programming that we’ve been able to rely on for years, so that grant just isn’t available anymore,” said Black Hardaman.
She added, “the district still said that even though we don’t have that USDA money, this remains a local priority, so that’s how we still have a small carveout to try to help the city sustain something for the community.”
Keeping in line with the Reedley College markets’ goal of promoting healthier purchasing habits, Horton said the upcoming farmers markets will primarily feature actual farm stands, and not as many food trucks. He said that the city also plans to continue its Reedley Street Eats events, which will offer residents two distinct experiences at the end of the week.
“Street Eats is where you get your unique food truck experience … and I believe the farmers market will be an event where you can pick up some fresh produce while you’re out doing your shopping, or right before you go to Tradewinds or head down to Odds Bodkins,” Horton said.
According to the staff report, the agreement with CFFMA is good through Aug. 25, 2027. Horton said the plan is to host a market nearly every Saturday so long as it does not overlap with citywide events like the Reedley Fiesta weekend.
He added that if the events prove to be popular, he would like to see the city re-up on the agreement as it has with Reedley Street Eats.
The best way for attendees to stay in the loop will be through social media, as both the city and CFFMA will be posting about dates, times and themes for each event as they come.
