By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Turlock Farmers market growing into a new year
New vendors will have meat, eggs, and coffee
farmers market
The Turlock Farmers Market with its vast array of vendors will open up its seasonal run on May 2. - photo by Journal file photo

The Turlock Farmers’ Market manager likens organizing a weekly market to throwing a wedding reception every Friday: there are a lot of details to coordinate.

“There’s a lot to do but once you get it down after the first market or two of the season, everyone falls into routine. I get excited at this time of year because I know we’re ready to launch a new season,” said Derek Griffin, market manager.

The Turlock Farmers’ Market is slated to open again on May 2.

For five years the Turlock Farmers’ Market has drawn locals in the area to downtown Turlock on Friday morning for fresh produce, rare gourmet finds, live music and more. This year, the market will play host to nine new vendors, three of which meet Griffin’s goal of selling meat, eggs and coffee – products that consumers have not been able to find at the Turlock market until this year.

“I tried to make it like one stop shopping where you can get vegetables, eggs and meat. Everything you need for a summer barbeque,” said Griffin. 

Wolfsen’s Meat and Sausage of Gustine will offer marinated beef and chicken ready to throw on the grill while farm fresh eggs will also be available for purchase to make a summer frittata full of fresh vegetables from the stand nearby. Local coffee will be available for purchase from Friday’s Grind for customers to sip as they browse the vendors.

Several new vendors include Castro’s BBQ and Phillipino Food, Romson’s Kabob, Valeria’s Gift, Holstein’s Dog Treats and Ketsher Garden which is a “farm to fork” produce practice grown by the students of Pitman High School Garden Club to teach them the growing and selling process.

 “We’re trying to feed off of what we started last year by offering what people loved as well as themed markets which were very popular,” said Griffin.

One of the most popular Farmers’ Market elements was the themed evenings including Kids Day and California State University, Stanislaus night at the market. These themes will recur along with a “Meet the Candidates” market for locals to meet local City Council and mayoral candidates and a Bike to the Market event where locals can meet at a location to collectively bike to the market. There will also be a bike parking valet to watch people’s bikes while they shop for their goods.

Several of the stalls will also be reappearing including Cipponeri Family Farms, J & J Ramos Farms, Hummus Heaven, Edith’s Homemade Bread, Legacy Toffee and more including shaved ice and kettle corn.  Once the market is in full swing by mid-May, there will be around 40 vendors at the weekly market. The Turlock Farmers’ Market will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the intersection of Main Street and Broadway Avenue in downtown Turlock from May through October. There will also be three night markets this year in addition to the morning markets on from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. June 13, Sept. 5 and Oct. 24.