Farmers Market Kicks Off This Saturday

Kathy Tresch started her apple orchard when she saw so many Sebastopol orchards being cut down to make way for vineyards.

She now grows more than 50 types of apples. And, although her first ones – Gravenstein, Sweet Bough, Strawberry Parfait – won’t ripen until August, she’ll be at this Saturday's opening day of the Petaluma Farmers’ Market, as a shopper.

“I’m looking forward to those good greens,” Tresch said.

This year is the 25th anniversary of the Saturday market. The Wednesday night market kicks off next week and is in its fifth year.

Erica Burns-Gorman has managed Petaluma’s farmers market for 17 years and says that what has kept her going all this time is the farmers who have become like family.

The Saturday market “supports our local agriculture (and) keeps small farmers going, Burns-Gorman said. “My mother was a farmer and I know, without this market she wouldn’t have survived. That’s the case for so many of these farmers. Without these markets, they wouldn’t be able to stay on their farms.”

The growing locavore trend – eating locally grown food whenever possible – has been a boon to farmers’ markets. But besides supporting hard-working Sonoma County farmers, the markets foster sense of community, offering a place to see friends and neighbors.

This is even more true, she says, of the Wednesday night market. “I see people show up at 4:30pm and they’re still there at closing time. Young families come and stay the whole evening.”

Vendor Vicki Straub glows when she talks about the market. “The feeling is just – beautiful. It’s like family. You look up and you see the smiles.” 

Straub’s farming heritage goes back to the Philippines, where she learned the art and craft of agriculture from her grandmother. When she married a man from Petaluma and moved to his property on Lohrman Lane, she asked him, “Can I have a garden?” Soon she was giving produce to neighbor – until he insisted on paying for it.

“I love the Petaluma Farmers’ markets,” Straub says. “People appreciate me. Every year,  I plant more. Eggs, garlic onions – just a little bit of everything.”

June Beltrametti and her husband George have been selling their produce at the market for 11 years. Like Straub, June Beltrametti savors the pleasure of seeing the same people every year. “They become special. Not just because they’re buying my vegetables, but we share what’s going on, even share recipes. That’s what I love the most.”

On opening day, the Beltramettis will have spring onions and garlic, small carrots, fava beans and “maybe some small beets,” June Beltrametti said. Moving into summer, they’ll offer potatoes, onions, a variety of squashes and string beans.

“Hopefully, we’ll have tomatoes before Christmas,” she says laughing.

The Saturday Petaluma Farmers’ Market opens May 21 and runs through Nov. 19 in Walnut Park, Fourth and D streets. Hours are 2 to 5:30 p.m. The Wednesday night market is held on Second Street between B and D streets and begins June 1. It’s open from 4:30 to 8 p.m.

For more information, call 762-0344 or go to petalumafarmersmarket.com.