FARMERS’ MARKET MUSINGS

First of all, a big thank you to all the regular customers who
play such an important role at the market. Although they may not
get their names mentioned on this side of page 5 very often, they
are always noticed because they are the reason farmers can continue
farming, and the Farmers’ Market can continue organizing a place
for the community to gather. The regular customers, I like to call
them the two-toters because they often have two heavy totes filled
with produce hanging from their arms, deserve three cheers.
Sometimes you can spot them by their well-worn totes that date
back 10 or maybe even 15 years. I think I know most of their faces,
but not all of their names. Some who come to mind are Ellen Berry,
Robin Berry (shopping for the Bishop’s Ranch,) Lee Nalle, Harvey
Brody, Claire Harper, Fred and Donna Passalacqua, Henk and Carol
Peeters, Barbara Bowman, Joe and Janet Norton, Marie Gewirtz, Mark,
Rosie, and Cloe Hagerman, Jan Mettler, and Bud and Pat Dimock. To
these regulars, and to the rest of you regulars, thank you for
navigating through the Zucchini Festival crowds to find your
farmer, rancher, dairyperson, fisherman or other vendor at the
market.
And now, thanks to all the volunteers who helped with the
Zucchini Festival this year: Alan Foppiano for loading and
delivering, reloading and returning straw bales, on loan from Jon
Wright Feed; Safe storage, delivery, and set up of our Race Ramp by
the Kiff Family of Ridgeview Farm; Set up by Whitney Perry, Susan
Rose, Kathleen and Bea Hallinan-Mueller, Suzane Scherzinger, Chris
Baldenhofer, Stu Harrison, Kip Miller, Susan Jones, and Toni
Lisoni. Registering the Zucchini Race Cars, and setting up the race
heats were Barbara Stewart and Erica McGuire.
Registering and weighing in the Giant Zucchinis
were Joe Naujokas and his sons Sam and Judah. Entrants were Wilson
Kiff, Max Opperman, Joel Kiff, Lucas Kiff.
First Place: Bill Blackerby’s Giant weighed in at 16.3 lbs. He
was awarded a Gift Certificate to the Jimtown Store.
Second Place: Wilson Kiff at 10.12 lbs.
Third Place: Scott Monroe at 10.4 lbs.
Most Creatively Decorated Zucchini Car (Best of
Show)
Age Category 7 Years and Younger:
Judges: Barbara Wollner, Joe Norton, and Kate Denault
First Place: Dellan Longton won a Gift Certificate to Toy
B’Ville.
Second Place: Amelia Overstreet
Third Place: Sam VandenHeuvel
Age Category 8, 9, 10:
Judges: Barbara Wollner, Stu Harrison, and Kate Denault
First Place: Seana Maclure, aka Hermione Granger, wore her
Hogwart’s School uniform to match her Hogwart’s Zucchini School
Bus, for which she received a Gift Certificate to Toy B’Ville.
A special prize was awarded to Seana by Taya Levine of Community
Foundation Sonoma County, which offered a $100 Gift Certificate to
the Charity of her choice. Seana chose to donate the funds to True
to Life Children’s Services, an organization that advocates on
behalf of foster children.
Second Place: Grace VandenHuevel
Third Place: Jack VandenHuevel
Age Category 11-17
Judges were Katie Murphy, Denis Moore, and Lily Tomovik
First Place: Patrick Sullivan won a gift certificate to the
Jimtown Store.
Second Place: Kaylee Kennedy
Third Place: Madison George
Ages Category 18 and Older
Judges: Cindy Daniel, former Mayor Eric Ziedrich, and
Councilwoman Susan Jones
First Place: Barbara Stewart won a gift Certificate to Diavola
Pizzeria.
Second Place: William Ulliot
Third Place: Judy Edmonds
Supervisor Mike McGuire, Scarecrow Kip Miller, Charlie Brown,
and Dan de Serpa, helped Barbara Stewart and Erika McGuire run the
many heats of the races, which included cars from Mielle Maclure,
Masyn Noe, Olivia Garza, Rocco Novia-Reed, Dellan Longton, Griffin
Longton, Kvan & Thea Meyer, Sebby Leffew, Rubby Leffew, Bruno
Overstreet, Lily Overstreet, Amelia Overstreet, Brady Mauritson,
Sloan Crockeu, Quinne Crockeu, Sam VandenHuevel, Valentino Bugica,
Dalia Bugica.
Seana Maclure, Cooper Jenkins, Sarah Scherzinger, Elsa
Scherzinger, Grace VandenHeuvel, Jack VandenHuevel, Claire Kennedy,
Patrick Sullivan, Kaylee Kennedy, Madison George, Barry Maclure,
Barbara Stewart, Ray Williams, Sara Leffew, Judy Edmonds, Dale
Green, David Casselman, Diana Kennedy, William Ulliott, Owen
Ingraham.
Jose Reyes worked with Sam and Judah Naujokas to make sure all
the ribbons and prizes were delivered to the participants. Special
thanks to those heroes who picked up every last straw bale and
piece of straw at the end of the market: Alan Foppiano, Ben
Marchand, Stu Harrison, Susan Rose and Whitney Perry.
Salsa Gigante! is coming up this Tuesday, Sept. 6. The market
opens at the usual time of 4 p.m., and we will be happy hear the
traditional Mexican Ballads of Carlos Molina and his Trio Nuevo
Amanacer. At 4:30, chefs from Agave Mexican Restaurant, El Farolito
Mexican Restaurant, El Sombrero, and Taqueria Guadalajara will
purchase their ingredients and begin making their salsas in a
friendly competition. The judging and public tasting will be from
5:30 to 6, and the winning restaurant will be announced at 6.
We will also announce the Raffle Prize winner of a Farmers’
Market tote filled with $50 worth of Veggie Rx tokens, a
certificate for an hour and a half therapeutic massage by Holly
Wilson, the “Jimtown Store Cookbook,” Deergnaw Olive Oil and Vivo
Vinegar from the salad dressing guys John and Russ, jam from Dry
Creek Peach, Savvy Productions, and Strong Arm Farm, and much more.
Get your raffle tickets and a $5 Veggie Rx token at the next
Saturday Market. Must be present to win, so be there to support our
farmers and enjoy salsa at the Tuesday Market.
Mary Kelley is the manager of the Healdsburg Farmers’ Market.
The Saturday morning market continues through November. The Tuesday
afternoon market continues through October.