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The Crescent City Harbor Farmers Market will make its debut for the 2023 summer season on Saturday. But there likely won’t be fresh produce available until July, market manager Angel Hanson told the Outpost today.

The Crescent City Farmers Market also hasn’t retained certified farmers market status “because of all the paperwork involved,” Hanson said. As a result, though CalFresh recipients can use their EBT cards, there will be no Market Match program enabling them to get extra produce this year, she said.

Local nonprofit Rural Human Services has operated the Saturday farmers' market for several years. Hanson also manages the organization’s food bank and said running both presents a challenge.

“I don’t physically have enough time or enough staff to help with (the Market Match) aspect of the grant because there’s a lot of paperwork,” she said. “If we were certified this year, Ocean Air Farms is our main source of produce and they wouldn’t have shown up until July, we wouldn’t be able able to do any Market Match.”

The farmers market will be held from 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the Crescent City Harbor. Much of the market will be alongside the green area near the Inner Boat Basin and the Purple Cat thrift store.

Motorists are asked to drive slowly through the harbor and pedestrians should be aware of vehicle traffic. While Dungeness crab season has slowed, fishermen are still off loading their catch onto the harbor’s docks, so folks should be prepared to dodge forklift and truck traffic, Crescent City Harbormaster Tim Petrick said.

“Often those vehicles have restricted visibility and stopping ability so please be careful,” he said. “It’s going to be a great summer in the Crescent City Harbor District and the Farmers Market is a great way to provide the community with fresh local produce.”

Hanson said she expects 30-40 vendors selling prepared foods and crafts during the month of June. Ocean Air Farms, based in Fort Dick, likely won’t bring produce to sell until July.

Not being a certified farmer's market will make it easier for the Crescent City Farmers Market to showcase produce from Oregon-based vendors like Sweet Cron from Kerby, or Promiseland Farm from Grants Pass. According to Hanson, to be a certified farmer's market through the California Department of Agriculture, the produce for sale has to be California-grown.

Without certified status, vendors can sell wholesale products at the Crescent City market as well, Hanson said. Some growers would get different products from other areas of the state and bring it to Crescent City to sell.

That practice was discouraged about three years ago, Hanson said. Often growers from outside the area found the cost of gas or the requirement to carry insurance and a business license on top of paying the vendor’s fee may make it difficult because “they got to spend money to make money,” she said.

“Because we’ve had three years of not doing it, people find other spots to go and sell,” Hanson said.

In addition to prepared foods and craftsmen and women selling their wares, several community groups use the Farmers Market as an opportunity to fundraise.

People will also be able to sign up for the food bank as well, Hanson said.

She said she’s looking for more vendors as well. They can sign up at Rural Human Service’s website.

In addition to the farmer's market, Rural Human Services will be holding Tailgate Tuesdays from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. June 27, July 18, Aug. 29 and Sept. 26 while supplies last at the RHS Food Bank, 286 M Street Suite D in Crescent City.

“That’s fresh produce from the Sacramento area and it’s free for anybody,” Hanson said. “There’s no income guideline, no application needed.”

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