As the newly formed King City Farmer's Market approaches the half-way point in its initial season, organizers are realizing that the only way to really measure success is by vendor satisfaction.

“A good amount of vendors are coming back each week and that tells me that the market is successful,” said Rob Cullen, King City councilman and Chamber board member, who is also on the King City Farmer's Market Sub-Committee. “They are making the sales that warrant their return each week.”

The King City Farmer's Market takes place every Wednesday, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Town Square, located along Broadway at the intersection of 2nd and 3rd streets. This is the first year a farmer's market has been available in King City and it will operate through the end of October, at which point it will close for the winter, re-opening again next year.

Cullen said that the entire experience of operating a farmer's market has been one big learning experience for everyone involved. No one of the sub-committee had any experience in a farmer's market beforehand, so they have all had to learn as they went.

“Since we started, each week we have learned something new and had to tweak the way the market is operated,” Cullen said. “At the beginning, I thought that having some vendors located inside the Town Square and some on Broadway would be the perfect format. I was wrong. We have now moved all vendors out onto Broadway where they are visible, and it seems to be working much better.”

One of the newest vendor at the King City Farmer's Market is Barajas, which features tacos, tortas and burritos. Cullen himself will vouch for the tortas and how delicious they are.

Continuing produce vendors include, Vasquez Farms, with their assortment of strawberries, blueberries and blackberries; San Antonio Olive Ranch, with olive oil and fresh avocados; Bounty of the Valley, featuring organic asparagus, cauliflower, mixed greens and squash; Mondragon Farms, with organic carrots, snap peas, English peas, broccoli, cauliflower and berries; Stackhouse Farms, with fresh nectarines, peaches, plums and roasted almonds; and Ortega Produce, with dried fruit and nuts.

Prepared food and snack vendors include, Champion Corn, which offers corn on the cob and baked potatoes; Cacahuate el Charro, with roasted peanuts; Frutas Frescas, with fresh fruit juices and fruit cups; and Noe's Churros, with churros, freshly made potato chips and snow cones.

Another new vendor is Esmeralda and Lupe Soliz, from Greenfield, who offer hotdogs and pulled pork sandwiches. “Last week, the pulled pork sandwiches were so popular, so completely sold out by 5:45 p.m.,” Cullen said. “They prepare the pork themselves with their own barbecue sauce and cole slaw on the side. It is all fresh.”

Cullen also said that the peaches and nectarines from Stackhouse Farms are really popular, as well as the fresh cut flowers from Fernandez Flowers. “Their arrangements are beautiful, they last a long time and are inexpensive,” Cullen said.

Cullen said that Stackhouse Farms has been one of the best performing vendors, especially since they were not a part of the market at the beginning. “I ran into them at the Soledad Farmer's Market and invited them to join us,” he said. “They have performed beyond my expectations and people really seem to love their product.”



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