2010 Farmers Market Opens April 3, 2010
The Redwood City Kiwanis Farmers’ Market is the oldest and the largest farmers’ market on the Peninsula. The idea for a market was conceived in 1979 by four community-oriented individuals led by John S. Hensill, Ph.D., with the intention of supporting local independent farmers and supplying the community with fresh produce. These early pioneers achieved those objectives and managed the market for years. Due to a dearth of man power, however, the managing responsibilities were transferred to the Redwood City Kiwanis Club in the late eighties, led by Norman Shapiro as the market manager. Mr. Shapiro had the foresight that the market could be expanded and be used as a vehicle for community service. He brought this vision to fruition during his tenure. Mr. Shapiro passed the managing responsibilities onto the shoulders of Caroline McHenry and Carrick Sears in 2000 because of health issues. In 2008, Mr. Carrick Sears moved out of state to further his education, leaving the current managing responsibilities solely to Caroline McHenry, the president of the Redwood City Kiwanis Club.
The emphasis of the market has always been on providing the community with fresh locally grown produce. The market (with six booths at inception) has remained true to its original spirit while expanding to include other venues and activities (with vendors now numbering well into the seventies); it is now a gathering place for the local citizenry. There is a special Children’s Corner where young Kiwanians offer children the artistry of face painting. There is also a non-agricultural section in a separate designated area with vendors dealing in jewelry, clothing, handicrafts, fine-arts photography and other non-farm products. Music is heard weekly, performed by our vibrant and culturally diverse local musicians, with genre diverging from Brazilian and Peruvian to country, jazz and the blues.
The opportunity to meet and converse with local elected officials is a unique feature of this market. The typical shopper is likely to run across long term Redwood City Councilwoman Diane Howard discussing issues of local interest while having a cup of coffee with shoppers. State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) is also frequently seen conferring with his constituents at his “Sidewalk Office.” Local non-profit organizations such as City Tree, the Redwood City Library Foundation, the Redwood City Senior Center and a host of others regularly set up booths at the market to exhibit and promote their community services.
Charitable organizations are the direct beneficiaries of the market activities. Every week, volunteers from the Redwood City Kiwanis Club gather unsold (otherwise discarded) fresh produce and deliver them to St. Anthony’s Padua Dining Room. In addition, all proceeds from the market fund the Redwood City Kiwanis annual back-to-school and annual Christmas cloth-shopping sprees for hundreds of underprivileged children from the Redwood City school district. The Redwood City Kiwanis Club also sponsors numerous other community enrichment programs (e.g., Star Camp, Sea Scouts, Thanksgiving turkey drive, Christmas toy drive, etc.) with funds generated from this market.
Come join the thousands of shoppers every Saturday morning between the first weekend of April and the last weekend of November at this unique market; you’ll undoubtedly have a great time shopping. More importantly, you’ll also be helping to support the activities of this great community.
We are:
A certified farmers market participating in the WIC vouchers program
http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic
A member, California Federation of Certified Farmers Market
http://www.cafarmersmarkets.com
