Splash Pad Park

Grand Lake Neighborhood, Oakland, California

Farmers Market Update – April 2021

2021 April, Dan Foster ·

by Grand Lake Farmers Market Manager, Dan Foster
Please Note: The Native American Health Center will continue providing free Covid tests and vaccine registration on-site on a weekly basis.

Newly signed and returning vendors:

  • Koda Farms, California’s oldest rice farm and mill, will be joining the market this Saturday 4/3.
  • Fenella’s Berries (organic strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries) will be joining the market this Saturday 4/3.
  • True Love Nursery is a brand new plant start business operating out of a back yard right here in Oakland. The owner, Sara, has a passion for nursery stock and education. Look for her this coming Saturday 4/3 with a variety of plant starts.
  • Raised Roots Farm has sites in Oakland and Livermore with a variety of row crops and a few fruit trees. Jamil, the owner and only current employee, does everything himself. He is incredibly passionate about farming and is super involved in his community. Look to see him at the market in the next month or two.
  • Lucia’s Pizza hopes to return sometime in April or May.
  • Moi Eat (inspired Vietnamese cuisine) hopes to join in April or May.

Newest vendors: 

  • Pound Bizness – New local producer that bakes mouth-watering pound cakes.
  • Poppy Bagels – New producer that not only bakes incredible New York-style bagels but also prepares gourmet open-faced bagel sandwiches featuring seasonal ingredients. Andy says, “They’re as good as Boychik’s.”
  • Chris Granillo – Oakland artist, who painted the mural across the street for The Private Mailbox, is selling weekly.

Editor’s Note: Vanya Goldberg (on left) is an Adams Point resident who has just been hired as AIM’s Community Program Manager. Ariel Vaughan (center) has been coordinating the Bounty Box program for the Grand Lake Market as of a couple of months ago. Priscilla Lucero (right) volunteered in the Bounty Box booth this past Sunday but, more importantly, is a member of AIM’s Board of Directors and, as owner of Lucero Organic Farms, has been selling at the Grand Lake Market since 2006. Priscilla says that this has become one of their very best markets rivaling the one in Ferry Plaza, which says a whole lot.
As Ariel pointed out in last month’s News, with the arrival of Spring there are going to be a lot of changes in the produce that’s available. The contents for March 20 are pictured below. The box this past Saturday was even better with the addition of asparagus and fingerling potatoes.
LATE-BREAKING NEWS: According to Andy Naja-Riese, Kaiser Permanente and the Oakland A’s will be providing $20,000 in financial support for the Bounty Box program to offer free produce boxes to vulnerable families in Oakland over an 8-week period starting in mid-May.

As yet another community benefit, AIM has made a strong commitment to increasing diversity at all their farmers markets, including our own Grand Lake Market. In keeping with that pledge, the majority (if not all) of the new vendors have been people of color. In addition, on April 6 AIM will host a webinar for potential vendors (farmers, food makers, artisans) whose primary language is Spanish. Please share this information with any individuals or groups who may be interested:

Abril 6, 2021 – 10am-11am – Cómo aplicar a los mercados de AIM  (How to apply to AIM Markets)

Únase al personal de AIM para conocer el proceso de solicitud y hacer preguntas. (Join AIM staff to learn about the application process and ask questions).

REGISTRATE EN LÍNEA

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcucOCvrzIvHdfAdUG4Q2yI5UkFe8pu5Nab

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