Farmers Market ends season with Harvest Hoe-Down

What do you do with a photo that needs to run large in order to see more than 250 people toasting the environment? Well, you run it as a very large photo in the November edition of the Nevada City Advocate, now found on newstands and in businesses and stores in Nevada City, Grass Valley and the San Juan Ridge.

 The Nevada City Farmers Market ended its second season on a high note at its Harvest Hoe-Down in the Alpha Building.

  Farmers Market Executive Director Mali Dyck estimated that between 250 and 300 people showed up on the evening of Saturday, Oct. 24, and consumed 60 gallons of soup, 50 pounds of fresh bread, two kegs of beer and one keg of ginger ale.

  And then there was room for dancing.

  “After the dinner and recognizing the volunteers who make the Farmers Market possible and drawing the raffle prize winners, we cleared out the tables and made room for contra dancing,” Dyck said. “I think we had well over 100 people contra dancing at one time. The Alpha Building was the perfect venue. We used all of it.”

  The executive director said the space was donated by Gary Tintle, whom she described as the “VIP of the Farmers Market.”

  “He’s been out there every week at 6 a.m. washing the street before the market opens and then again after it closes,” she said. “He’s just an amazing volunteer.”

  The 21-week market season ended on Oct. 31. Dyck said this year’s market averaged around 30 vendors a week, which included local farmers, restaurants, artists and non-profits.

  The Saturday market on Union Street in downtown Nevada City started at 8 a.m. at the beginning of the season and then moved to a 9 a.m. start. It featured live music at Robinson Plaza and at its entrance on Broad Street. Another volunteer, Saul Rayo, scheduled the bands and musicians this year.

  Kirk Valentine’s Classic Café sold crepes, coffee and fresh orange juice at the market. The Nevada City chamber board member said the market became a weekly ritual for some customers.

  “It’s a Nevada City kind of thing, which means people are enjoying it,” he said. “We’ve seen people hang around for an hour and a half.”

  Valentine estimated that about 25 percent of the customers were from out of town.

  Dyck said more farmers sold goods this season. Next year, she’d like see them kept even busier.

  “We’re definitely looking to grow it and get more shoppers here,” she said.

  For the first time, the Farmers Market accepted Wick coupons this season. Dyck, who is in her first year on the job, hopes that vendors can collect food stamps next year as well.

First, however, she plans to do something she hasn’t done for a long time.

“I’m looking forward to sleeping in on a Saturday,” she said. “I’ve only had one week off in the last 21 months.”