By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
FARMERS MARKET MANIA
New, longer market along Manteca Avenue
farmers market.jpg
DENNIS WYATT/The Bulletin A new certified farmers’ market is coming to downtown starting next Tuesday, April 30, and will return weekly through Aug. 27.

A new certified farmers’ market will take place under the stately sycamore trees lining Manteca Avenue in downtown starting Tuesday, April 30.

Mary Mueller of M&M Events, who has been staging events at Orchard Valley as well as other locales in Manteca and Modesto, has already lined up 30 vendors plus three certified farmers for the market running on Tuesdays from 4 to 7:30 p.m. starting next week through Aug. 27.

The initial three vendors are Delfa Farms out of Escalon, DePalma Farms out of Ripon and newcomer King Organic Farms out of Bakersfield that will have three booth spaces. Mueller said other certified farmers will be joining as the season progresses and they have crops ready to pick.

The new downtown venture is in addition to farmers’ market-style events set for Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays starting May 3 and running through Sept. 1 at The Promenade Shops at Orchard Valley.

Mueller said her goal is to create events that people can browse and unwind in  Manteca on a weekly basis.

On Fridays from 5 to 8:30 p.m. starting May 3 at Orchard Valley there will be an outdoor market, with a wine and beer garden as well as vendors. The weekly event dubbed Friday Night Live will feature low-key music as it did last year. Then on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. beginning May 4 and on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. starting May 5 Jacob’s Produce will anchor a low-key market.

The downtown Manteca certified market along Manteca between Yosemite Avenue and Center Street near Library Park has the following lined up starting April 30:

Food vendors: Pupusas, The Lemon Box Lemonade Trailer, Kettlecorn/Lumpia, The Rock Pizza Oven, Taco Fiesta, and Fagundes Meats

Crafters: Starchild’s Treasures, Holly’s Kitchen Dog Treats, YM Finds, NoKoOi, Creativity by 

Vendors: Mary Kay, Paparazzi, Signature Homestyles, Lularoe, Color Street, Tupperware Ruth, and Loved Skin Beauty

Specialty booths: Olive Drop Olive Oil, Thirsty-Bear Coffee, Hummus Heaven, Alison’s Brittle, Rosas Bakery, Dutch Roots Farms Flowers, Master Gardeners of San Joaquin, and Honey.

White Crane Winery will handle the wine and brew offerings.

The music for the first night will feature student bands from G&K Music Studio.

Anyone interested in being a vendor either at the downtown certified market or the weekly events at Orchard Valley can contact Mueller at 209-612-5396.

The certified farmers’ market is running six weeks longer than the Manteca Chamber of Commerce event that had been held during the summer at Library Park.

The chamber is adding a Thursday evening event at Library Park this summer to replace their farmer’s market. 

Dubbed Manteca 2019 Summer Series, it takes place on three Thursday evenings from 5 to 8 p.m. — June 27, July 18, and Aug. 1 — at Library Park. 

The June 27 event will be a business expo and young entrepreneur day. The July 18 event will be a spa/health/fitness day while Aug. 1 is the Maker’s Market.

Plans call for live music as well as food and a beer and wine garden similar to what operated in concert with Market & Music at the Park.

Food booths for members are $50 for one day and $150 for all three. For non-members they are $60 for one date and $180 for all three.

Craft and commercial booths are $40 a day for members and $50 a day for non-members. The member price for all three days is $120 and non-member price is $150.