Bee in Turlock: Downtown farmers market has a rival

Supporters of the Turlock Certified Farmers Market rose to its defense against a vendor who aims to start a new market that would conflict with it.

Peter Cipponeri is seeking a city street-closure permit for a year-round Saturday market at the site, at Main Street and Broadway, where the current market operates on that day from May to October.

Backers of the current market urged the Turlock City Council on Tuesday night to keep it going. The council instead voted 4-1 to have the city staff draft a selection process, which will need a final vote.

Councilman Steven Nascimento dissented. “This is an event that has been built up from the ground floor, and it wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for the work of the people who are here tonight,” he said.

The applicant is part of Cipponeri Family Farms, which has a longtime produce stand on Geer Road and has been a vendor at the current market. He did not speak at the council meeting and could not be reached by The Modesto Bee on Wednesday.

Cipponeri applied as the owner of the Golden State Farmers Market Association. He wrote on its website, “I grew up farming with my family, and now my wife and I personally take pride in growing fresh and healthy produce for our local communities. We can’t think of a better place to deliver our healthy (and tasty!) produce to communities than through the local farmers markets.”

Turlock has been an off-and-on participant in the farmers market movement of recent decades. These events bring local produce and crafts directly to consumers, and growers can boost their income by skipping middlemen.

The current market appeared amid a revival of downtown Turlock, including restaurants, the Carnegie Arts Center and city government buildings.

“We have become kind of a jewel for the city, a jewel to hold onto,” said vendor George Kapor, who sells lavender at the market and serves on its board.

“The Turlock Certified Farmers Market has never been about competition,” said Elizabeth Claes, chairwoman of the board. “It has always been about community.”

Councilwoman Amy Bublak, who made the motion to devise a selection process, said the city has to be wary of making the market a “monopoly” for one group.

“At least we will have been fair and impartial,” she said.

Mayor Gary Soiseth and council members Bill DeHart and Matthew Jacob voted with Bublak.

Modesto had a similar issue in 2010, when a market operated on 10th Street with the same Saturday hours as the long-established Modesto Certified Farmers Market, six blocks away.

This story was originally published December 9, 2015 at 5:16 PM with the headline "Bee in Turlock: Downtown farmers market has a rival."