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Previously:

• Rural Human Services Explores Change of Venue for Farmers Market

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 (Updated 4:26 p.m. Thursday: A statement regarding masks and vaccines was corrected. Crescent City Farmers Market representatives can't ask anyone to show validation that they've received the COVID-19 vaccine. However, if masks are still required vendors will display a sign informing their patrons to wear a mask before approaching the booth, according to market manager Angel Hanson.)

One of Del Norte’s summer mainstays — the Crescent City Farmers Market — will experience a change of venue when it opens June 5.

The Saturday market will trade the Del Norte County Fairgrounds for the Crescent City Harbor, with vendors setting up shop amid the port’s solar panels in the Starfish Way parking lot, according to Market Manager Angel Hanson.

“The ground is already marked with numbers of where the crab pots should be so each vendor will have their own permanent spot,” Hanson told the Wild Rivers Outpost on Thursday. “Then we’re doing a virtual map on our Rural Human Services website. If (people) go on there and take a mouse and scroll over the map it’ll pull up a business card.”

The Crescent City Farmers Market is operated by local nonprofit Rural Human Services. In December, Hanson submitted a letter to the Harbor District Board of Directors stating the organization was looking for a “fresh new start” and was hoping to attract more patrons.

On Thursday, Hanson told the Outpost that the contract with the harbor was a better contract for RHS.

Already 20 brand new vendors have signed on for the first market, Hanson said. These include Stella’s Adventures, a fishing charter business, and La Capella, which offers cannolis and other desserts, Hanson said. Community favorites, such as Ocean Air Farms, Rebecca’ihaw-Lhaw Filipino BBQ and Continental Bakery will also make a comeback, she said.

However, one vendor likely won’t be at the market this season due to a change in the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s bylaws — Sweet Cron - Cron Produce, of Kerby, Oregon, according to Hanson.

“We are no longer going to have out of state vendors — any Oregon produce,” she said. “Because we’re certified, California won’t even allow it.”

Hanson said RHS had already accepted and began using its CDFA grant to operate the market before they found out that out-of-state growers couldn’t sell at the market. She said she tried to convince CDFA officials to allow Sweet Cron, and other Oregon producers, to sell in a specially designated section of the market, but the answer was no.

According to Hanson, not only could RHS face fines between $400-$1,000 if they break California’s rules, the market could potentially be shut down.

“It’s not a risk I want to take,” she said. “It’s not a risk I want my company to have. There’s always next year of not being a certified market and then we can have whoever we want.”

Linda Nelson, who owns Sweet Cron with her husband Rhett, said they’ve sold their produce at the Crescent City Farmers Market for more than 10 years. Though they’re not going to sell at that Crescent City market, Nelson said she and her husband will probably be at the Downtown Crescent City Farmers and Artisans Market on Wednesdays.

She said they’re also working on an alternative Crescent City place to set up for Saturdays.

“We’re looking forward to seeing all our customers again,” Nelson said.

The Crescent City Farmers Market will still offer fresh produce to WIC and Open Door Community Health Center clients, Hanson said. Its Market Match program will offer $20 extra dollars to CalFresh recipients to purchase extra produce with, she said. Last year’s match was $10, she said.

“Our Market Match group is going to be in a neon orange tent,” Hanson said. “We want to make sure people see that.”

As for safety concerns due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hanson said she and market staff are waiting to see if masks will still be required. However, people will still have to social distance, she said.

If masks are still required, vendors will display a sign asking patrons to wear them, according to Hanson.

“In the produce section we’ll have, not only masks available, but gloves if they plan on touching something,” she said.

The Farmers Market will be held from 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturdays from June 5 to Oct. 30. Spaces for vendors are still available. For more information, call (707) 464-7441, extension 113 or pick up an application form at the RHS office, 286 M Street in Crescent City.

For more information, call Angel Hanson at (707) 951-9163 or email ahanson@dnrhs.org.

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