What fruits and veggies are in season? Here’s what you might find at Modesto farmers market
Modesto’s downtown farmers market will resume spring operations next week and remain open an extra day through mid November.
The Modesto Certified Farmers’ Market is open Saturdays 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 21 through Dec. 16 on 16th Street between H Street and I Street. Starting April 6, hours are extended for the market to also be open Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Here’s what you need to know about the market, including what’s in season, who the vendors are and how to use EBT:
In-season produce
Greens, root vegetables, citrus, apples, potatoes, onions and other produce that can be stored over the winter are still in season at the Modesto Certified Farmers’ Market.
Soon, customers will start seeing greenhouse vegetables including summer squash, bell peppers and tomatoes, said market manager Shiela Burch. By the end of April, farmers will have blueberries and cherries and into May, stone fruit will be available.
“For now, we do have the majority of farmers that come for the majority of the year,” Burch said, adding that the market typically contains between eight and 14 certified farmers. “We have plenty of produce out there.”
Other vendors
For the bulk of the year, Burch said the market has around 70 vendors. Around 50 stay all year and around 20 come and go seasonally.
Besides produce farmers, other vendors include: packaged food vendors, hot food vendors and non-certified agricultural vendors that sell things like cheese, milk and meat.
There’s also live, local music, activities and community organizations that educate the public, Burch said.
“There’s lots of different things that go on here,” Burch said. “It’s a pretty nice place to be.”
EBT availability
Customers who receive funds from CalFresh, CalWORKS or other programs through Electronic Benefit Transfer can use those benefits at the Modesto Certified Farmers’ Market, Burch said.
With an attached grant from the ecology department in Berkeley, the Modesto market is able to match $10 of that money for fruits and vegetables on any market day.
An EBT booth allows customers to cash out their EBT for tokens, and that is where they receive an extra $10. Burch said she keeps track of all of the transactions and reimburses farmers who receive tokens as payment at the end of the market day.
“Anyone who’s qualified for EBT, we have nine markets in a month, so that’s 90 extra dollars just for fruits and vegetables,” Burch said. “You can use your other EBT dollars for any other packaged, processed product or bread or anything else (excluding hot items) you can get there.”
What ‘certified’ means
In 1977, new California Department of Food and Agriculture regulations exempted farmers from being required to pack, size and label their fresh fruits, nuts and vegetables in standard containers to transport and sell in markets anywhere other than the farm site.
By doing this, farmers’ net income is increased by allowing them to market their products without the added expenses of commercial preparation and makes it possible for them to stay in business, according to the department’s website.
Modesto-area farmers go through the Stanislaus County Agricultural Commissioner to receive certification, Burch said.
Other vendors, such as packaged food vendors, have other types of certification, like Processed Food Registration or Cottage Food Operations, the market manager said.
History of the market
Two years after the new department regulations, Modesto Certified Farmers’ Market began in 1979.
The Modesto market, along with other long-lasting farmers’ markets, started during a time when farmers were trying to figure out how to take their produce straight to the consumer rather than having to sell it for pennies on the dollar, Burch said.
Modesto’s first female mayor Peggy Mensinger, who was also a farmer and Modesto Junior College agriculture instructor, brought fresh produce direct to the community “long before ‘Buy Fresh, Buy local’ became a well-known phrase,” according to the market’s website.
“We have several vendors that have been here since the beginning of the market,” Burch said. “It’s a great place for small businesses to get started and then move on to brick and mortars. I wish we had 50 more spaces so we could fill all of them.”
This story was originally published April 1, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
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