Fresh From Our Farmers: Market has new manager, vendors

The Forestville Farmers Market, which takes place on Tuesday afternoons, is in its second year and is in the midst of a transformation, a rebirth. The market has a new manager, is no longer year-round and has more farm vendors and total vendors than in its inaugural year.

Its location on the grounds of Corks Restaurant remains the same, though the market’s configuration has changed. Produce vendors are now closer to the entrance, alongside the building. Across the parking lot, the restaurant has set up picnic tables and a small wine bar, where Russian River Vineyards wines are offered at $5 a glass. Craft vendors, a massage therapist and vendors of foods to enjoy on the spot are located on the crush pad.

Mary Rand, the new manager, is also a vendor. Her farm, Sunrise Ranch, of Forestville, is currently harvesting several varieties of dry-farmed table grapes and two varieties of apples.

Ortiz Brothers Farm of Santa Rosa is the heavy hitter here when it comes to produce, with a huge array of greens (including cilantro), potatoes, tomatoes, summer squash, winter squash, poblanos, jalapeños and more.

The Farm at Corks attends, too, with cucumbers, heirloom tomatoes, freshly-cut greens, just-harvested sprouts and more.

Forestville’s RLR Vineyard, operated by Randy and Rozlyn, Johnson, has eggs, cucumbers, kale, peppers, basil, beans and wonderful watercress, which is hard if not impossible to find at local farmers markets.

Neufeld Farms, located in the Central Valley, attends this market with dried fruits, nuts and fresh fruit. A strawberry vendor from Watsonville joined in recently but may not continue much longer.

Recently, Mike Barats, a local fisherman, had ling cod and halibut. The week before, he had freshly caught wild Pacific King salmon.

California Balsamic, based in Ukiah, attends with a line of balsamic-style vinegars and infused olive oils.

Tracy Walls, who calls her business Snapdragon Bakery, attends with cookies, cupcakes and cobblers.

Tea and Trumpets, a tea company based in Sonoma County, attends with their loose-leaf teas and tea accessories. Selections include white tea, green tea, black tea, oolong tea, puer tea, along with herbal blends and non-camellia-based teas.

If you’d like to enjoy something on the spot, you have two choices at this market. Mateo Hernandez’s Simply Ceviche offers hibiscus agua fresca, steak tacos, ceviche and sorbet. Jack Kanber’s Vegeterranean offers five vegetarian dishes each week, all inspired by Turkey and the Mediterranean region.

Jewelers and other crafts folk round out the 20-vendor market, which offers live music each week as well.

Finally, massage therapist Lee Gooding, who practices in Forestville, attends the market, offering on-the-spot massage by the minute.

The Forestville Certified Farmers Market takes place at Corks Restaurant at Russian River Vineyards (5700 Gravenstein Highway N., Forestville) on Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. through the end of October. For more information, email info@forestvillefarmersmarket.com or call 766-4597.