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Farmers set up market in Patterson

Written by John Saiz / Patterson Irrigator /

Saturday, 01 September 2007

"Every successful city has a good farmers market"

- Charley Fernandes

Melissa Carrick / Patterson Irrigator

Fresh, local food and the farmers who grew it gathered in Patterson on Wednesday for the city’s first farmer’s market in more than five years.

This week’s sale was the only one planned in Patterson this year, but growers and organizers figure that next season, Patterson will be ripe for its own weekly market.

“Every successful city has a good farmers market,” said Charley Fernandez of Ellie & Charley’s Natural Garden Organic Produce. “It’s the key to a good life.”

Those who got in on Wednesday’s action had the chance to buy tomatoes, pluots, eggplants and a slew of other edibles.

Melissa Carrick / Patterson Irrigator

Local seniors were given $20 in free coupons.

“I heard about it at exercise this morning,” said Pat Burch, who works out at Patterson Senior Center.
The coupons were provided through the county Agency on Aging, which encourages seniors to include fresh produce in their diet.

“It subsidizes the farmers and helps seniors eat better,” agency employee Norma Muñoz said.
Folks age 60 and older got 10 $2 coupons good at any authorized farmers market in the county.
Sellers said many people used the coupons at Wednesday’s sale.

Seniors were also catered to in other ways. Free rides to and from the market, at Highway 33 and I Street, were available through the Senior Connection Transportation Program. Coordinator Lynn Ewen was on hand specifically to help seniors get to the farm-fresh produce.

The program typically gives seniors rides to doctor’s appointments or shopping centers.

“I had one lady, a senior in Patterson,” Ewen said. “I walked her around — she loved it. Thought it was the greatest thing.”

Farmers said one of the nicest aspects of such markets is forming relationships with customers.

Melissa Carrick / Patterson Irrigator

“I enjoy interacting with people that want to know the source of their food and eat seasonally,” said Indira Clark, who described herself as the “mom” at Tyson Hill Farm. “Having marketed for 29 years now, there’s a lot of give and take. We’re growing fruits and vegetables people request. I have Rolodexes full of customers.”

The four growers at Patterson’s farmers market all know each other from the Modesto farmers market. Charley Fernandez, who lives with his wife in rural Patterson, extended the invite to them.

While they said they’d love to have a regular market in Patterson, it’s too late in the season to start one this year. Typically, farmer’s markets wind down in November.

When participants return next year, they hope to move from the parking lot at Highway 33 and I Street to perhaps North or South Park off Plaza Circle.

To reach John Saiz at the Irrigator, call 892-6187 or e-mail him at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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