Gilroy Farmers’ Market
(Certified Farmers Market Association)
7351 Rosanna Street, Gilroy
Open May 16 through November 22
Saturdays 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
(800) 806-3276
[email protected]
cafarmersmkts.com
Morgan Hill Farmers’ Market
Gilroy Farmers’ Market
(Certified Farmers Market Association)
3rd and Depot Streets, Morgan Hill
Open Year ‘Round
Saturdays 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
(925) 465-4690
cafarmersmkts.com/morgan.html
Tennant Station
Farmers’ Market
520 Tennant Avenue, Morgan Hill
Open Year ‘Round
Saturdays and Sundays
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
(408) 465-9176
tennantavenuefarmersmarket.com
Vasquez Farm. For folks who like their veg-
gies pickled, Nanny O’s sells bread & but-
ter and dill pickles as well as pickled okra,
asparagus and spicy green beans. Market
stalls overflow with melons, berries and
cherries and specialty picks like the “peco-
tum”, which combines peach, apricot and
plum grafts to produce a juicy and delicious
new variety.
Gourmet items run the gamut from
fresh salsa and local honey to virgin olive
oil and hand-made, petroleum-free soaps.
Celine Cohen and Cody Kaprielan
launched Kaprielan Growers more than
a year ago in Prunedale. They grow an
assortment of succulents, specialty crops
and starter plants using organic farming
practices.
“We started our business so we could
learn to live off the land and help people
adopt drought-tolerant landscapes,” Cohen
said. “People around here are very receptive
to new ideas that they can try in their own
gardens.”
Roxanne’s Biscotti owner Roxanne
Vinciguerra encourages customers to
sample her signature hand-crafted “biscotti
26
bites” which are dipped in dark chocolate.
Her all-natural granola mixes are made
with thick-cut oats, lightly sweetened with
pure maple syrup and brown sugar, and
embellished with almond, anise, chocolate,
cranberries or butterscotch.
Roxanne established a licensed commer-
cial kitchen in Morgan Hill to prepare her
baked goods. She also rents her kitchen to
other local food producers including mem-
bers of the South Valley Artisan Group,
which meets there monthly to brainstorm
ideas together.
When it comes to desserts, Soul Sweets
is a popular market favorite. The 7-year-old
catering and dessert company is known for
its traditional “comfort desserts” includ-
ing fruit cobblers, pecan and sweet potato
pies and red velvet cake. Owners Anthony
and Dawn Randolph rent time in the
commercial kitchen of Roxanne’s Biscotti.
Everything is baked from scratch with all-
natural ingredients to produce authentic
soul food.
As Dawn Randolph describes it, “We’re
excited to be part of the CFMA markets.
Soul Sweets is a labor of love for us. It’s
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
JULY / AUGUST 2015
how we give back, with desserts that appeal
to customers who are serious about their
sweets. They come by each week looking
for their favorite sweets and want to know
what’s new.”
Currently, Morgan Hill is the only
CFMA member that includes arts & crafts
as part of its weekly venue. Like the food
and produce vendors, only the artists them-
selves are eligible to sell their works at mar-
ket – reselling is prohibited. There’s always
room for musicians to entertain shoppers
while they browse and socialize.
“It’s not easy for independent farmers
and ranchers to compete with the com-
mercial giants,” Hayden said. “Our farmers
work hard and they take pride in growing
only the best, no preservatives, no hor-
mones, no artificial flavoring. It’s a win-
win when we can preserve our farms and
ranches and provide our families with better
nutrition. We can help young families move
away from microwaved fast food and obe-
sity issues. One million people are shopping
farmers’ markets every week…we’d like to
see that number go up!”
gmhtoday.com