Lots Happening at Coastside Farmer's Markets this Year

Greenings, Marketeers! 

Amazing but true!  In a few short days, The Coastside Farmer's Markets welcomes the fifth season on Wednesday, May 2 in Pacifica and ( drumroll please) celebrates our 10th Anniversary Season Opener in Half Moon Bay!  

Supervisor Don Horsley will be on hand at both locations to ring the Opening Day Bell and let the teeming throngs loose on the amazing array of iconic Coastal vegetables, gorgeous berries and the produce from the many First Generation, diversified organic farms that are popping up in our area.  Fruits, nuts and hot-weather vegetables from neighboring counties will come along to fill in the gaps as the seasons dictate. This season both Markets will feature pasture finished lamb, pork & poultry, pastured eggs (mine!), grass-fed and finished beef, world-famous cheeses, sustainably harvested fish right out of Half Moon Bay Harbor, and honey from hives placed on farms and orchards in San Mateo County. I can hardly wait.  

This year we welcome Early Bird Ranch from Pescadero and their pasture-raised chickens and turkeys, ducks, rabbits, and forest-raised pork! The rules and regs are such that you'll have to order your birds ahead of time, and pick them up on Opening Day! Contact Kevin and Shaelynn at Info@EarlyBirdRanch.com and get an order in. I can think of no finer way to begin the season than a spinach salad with warm duck and bright cherries, splashed back with Coastside grown gingerbeer, can you? 

Pacifica's Own Don Rowell and his Trio will provide that drumroll on Wednesday, and the locally grown Bluegrass band Free Range will delight y'all on Saturday. 

Big thanks are due once again to our hosts in both locations - The City of Pacifica and the Carrubba Family in Half Moon Bay - who, on the strength of a handshake have stepped back and let us spring from bud to branch over the years. And a deep bow of gratitude to Charles Nelson and Toque Blanche, who has once again committed to "paying th rent" on booth space and equipment for the local non-profits who will be joining us each week. 

And of course, thanks again to the Friends of the Farmers' Markets, especially you early joiners, for your support. Lots of fun stuff on the horizon this season, thanks to y'all. Yep, you FOFM's have made it possible for the Markets to have great music each week, to host mulitple blood drives,  demonstrations, participate in the Farmer's Market Nutrition PRogram for Seniors and Families,  school tours, marrow donor registries, voter registration and now - finally - after al these years:

We will be able to extend access to SNAP beneifts to the many hardworking families with limited food budgets, and we will also (along with our pals at Pescadero Grown!) be among the ONLY Certified Farmers' Markets in San Mateo County able to present Chef Demonstrations on site! See you this week. Yay. Thanks a bushel and a bunch!

Erin Tormey
Founder, Manager
Coastside Farmer's Markets