A tale of two farmers markets as rival events open in Turlock

Dueling farmers markets opened to an overcast sky and sunny shoppers Saturday morning.

Large crowds came out to the relocated nonprofit Turlock Certified Farmers Market at the Stanislaus County Fairground, with a smaller group supporting the for-profit Turlock Downtown Farmers’ Market. The two factions had been sparring over the downtown Turlock location for months after one of the existing market’s vendors, 24-year-old Peter Cipponeri, put in an application to displace the nonprofit with his for-profit enterprise.

The City Council held several contentious meetings on the issue, ultimately voting in March that the two sides should collaborate. But instead the nonprofit market operators, who had run a successful downtown market since 2009, withdrew their proposal and opted to move to the fairground. That left Cipponeri, whose family owns Cipponeri Family Farms, to run his own event at the Main Street location and rename it the Turlock Downtown Farmers’ Market.

On Saturday morning, the nonprofit market opened with 50 vendor booths, while the for-profit market had about 25. Cipponeri said the weather – gray clouds and light drizzle – forced 10 or 15 other vendors to cancel until next week.

The nonprofit market was stretched across its new, larger fairground location. Booths filled several rows inside and outside one of the fair livestock barns, allowing shoppers to browse under-roof and away from the occasional raindrops. Market Manager Derek Griffin said with the bigger site he was able to bring in more varied vendors. Last year, the group had 40 booths; this year, 10 were added. Only two vendors from last season didn’t follow them to the fairground.

“In a way, this worked out really great for us. Every vendor can be here – rain or shine – because of the pavilion. We were able to bring in more food vendors. We didn’t have that many before because we were around local restaurants. But now we aren’t. We could even do this all year-round here if we wanted,” Griffin said.

Hundreds of shoppers and supporters streamed into the fairground, many carrying their own canvas totes as evidence of their farmers market familiarity. Most seemed pleased, some even thrilled, with the new site and its amenities – including easy parking and more restrooms. To celebrate opening day, the fair offered a maypole and free train rides for kids while a band played jazzy instrumental tunes.

“I think this move is working out even better for the certified market,” said Turlock resident Nedra Voorhees, who has shopped at the market in its downtown location for years but doesn’t plan to go back to check out the new operators. “It looks very nice here. There’s room. This isn’t a bad move at all.”

About a mile away at the for-profit market, a band played rock hits to inaugurate the event while a steady but slow trickle of shoppers browsed the offerings. Downtown market manager Mason Ankeney – who also manages farmers markets Cipponeri runs in Carmel, Copperopolis and Hughson – said about seven of the vendors have returned from last season. Many of those chose to double-dip, running booths at both the fairground and downtown Turlock sites.

“We wish the other market the best of luck. We’re not in competition. My preference would be if both markets are extremely successful,” Ankeney said.

People milled around the downtown market while children watched a magician perform sleight-of-hand tricks on the street. Mother-daughter pair Susan and Nicole Andrino of Turlock had been regulars at the nonprofit market when it was downtown. They’re friends of the Cipponeris and came to show their support.

“We’re enjoying it and it’s a pretty good turnout to start,” said Susan Andrino. “But it’s also kind of sad how this has divided the community and that they couldn’t work together.”

Cipponeri, who was greeting shoppers and handing out free umbrellas, said he thinks the weather dampened the turnout a bit. Next week, he said, there will be 40 booths, including more food booths. He said attracting vendors for the market was easy, and he could have more but he did not want to to expand too quickly.

“We’re super happy with this turnout for a rainy day, plus it’s Mother’s Day weekend and there’s Love Turlock. But we couldn’t be happier,” he said. “I am also looking forward to next week and a sunny day.”

Love Turlock, the annual day of community service in the city, held its rally on the fairground next to the nonprofit market, adding to the bustle of activity at the site. Like many other shoppers, Turlock resident Allison Jeffrey said loyalty to the nonprofit market brought her out. She has gone to the downtown market for six years, but was pleased with the group’s new setup and particularly excited about the shaded shopping come the summer months.

Some vendors at the fairground reported running low on their products – from blueberries to strawberries – due to demand. Cheree Hill, who owns Jars of Delicious, returned to sell her jams and jellies with the nonprofit market and called the new site “wonderful” for the vendors and participants.

“It was disheartening what happened, but it was great to see the community support and know there are so many passionate people out there in the community,” she said.

After months of acrimony and uncertainty, many said they were glad to have it all behind them and get back to what really matters.

“I know there’s a lot of politics around it,” said Rebekke Burmer, shopping at the nonprofit market at the fairground. “I just want to buy local, fresh produce.”

This story was originally published May 7, 2016 at 4:20 PM with the headline "A tale of two farmers markets as rival events open in Turlock."