By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Market on Maple start pushed back to Thursday, June 3rd.
farmers market 4
Longtime vendors, like J & J Ramos Farms, Inc. returned to the market on Saturday, which opened one month later than usual (ANGELINA MARTIN/The Journal).

A farmers market is returning to downtown Manteca.

But instead of being a summer fling, this time around it will run through Oct. 28.

The event dubbed “Market on Maple” takes place Thursdays from 5 to 8:30 p.m. from June 3 through Oct. 28 in the 100 block of North Maple anchored by the post office.

The street along with the parking lot next to the Rust Salon will also be blocked off for market use.

The City of Manteca led by Deputy City Manager Toni Lundgren is working with downtown concerns to stage the market.

Besides certified fresh farm products there will be other vendors as well as entertainment. The concept is modeled more like the street markets in Tracy and Modesto.

The Maple Avenue location — arguably the nicest side street in downtown — is away from Library Park. The fact homeless gathered as opposed to camping in a far section of Library Park away from the farmers market where they couldn’t be legally chased away as they had the right to be there just like everyone prompted a number of people to slam the event on social media. They declared the market to be unsafe and the presence of homeless intimidating even though there had never been an instance where the homeless committed any crime.

The new Market on Maple is part of a stepped up city presence in downtown. The City Council recently bought the former public health’s services building and adjoining parking lot from San Joaquin County as a “satellite” city hall. They will take possession of the building later this month.

Applications for vendor space is available at www.cjcfarmersmarket.com/applications.html . For more information call (209) 456-8600 or email recreation@mantecagov.com.