Natomas Farmers’ Market Opens Saturday

THE NATOMAS BUZZ | @natomasbuzz
originally posted 5/2/2012

The Natomas certified farmers’ market will reopen next month in a new location.

Starting June 2, Natomas-area residents can buy fresh, locally-grown produce at a weekly farmers’ market in the Sacramento Gateway shopping center.

The market will be located in the parking lot adjacent to the former Sam’s Club warehouse store, at 3671 North Freeway Boulevard. It will be open 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Bobbie Brown, senior real estate manager for CBRE, which manages the Sacramento Gateway retail properties, confirmed an agreement was reached Monday, April 30 with Certified Farmers’ Market.

The Natomas farmers’ market is being relocated due to low customer attendance at its previous location in the Inderkum High School parking lot.

The market first opened in August 2010. Last year the, the market opened in May, but shopper turnout proved lower than market officials had hoped.

“We thought we needed to move closer to south Natomas to see if we can be more convenient to a greater number of residents,” said Dan Best for Certified Farmers’ Market. “We want to make this (market) work for both Natomas and the farmers.”

Certified Farmers’ Market would like a Natomas market to operate year round, but based on last year’s attendance at the Inderkum location, staying open past September proved unfeasible. Farmers who did not plan to return to the Inderkum are excited about the new location, Best said.

“We can operate at a loss, but the farmers cannot,” he said. “Since we are a program to save the family farmer, we must keep their viability as a foremost consideration.”