The Pacific Coast Farmers Market Association is looking for feedback regarding the Brentwood Farmers Market.
According to a social media post, they are constantly working to build a better market; to do so, they are looking for public feedback. — complete survey, click here.
The survey comes after the the Brentwood City Council directed staff to look at event permitting, cost recovery and blackout dates at city park in downtown Brentwood at its June 27 meeting–which included looking at the Farmers Market.
During that discussion, the city began a conversation about possible blackout dates going forward, including possibly reducing the number of farmers markets or back-to-back events with the farmers market.
Councilmember Jovita Mendoza says she is getting complaints about too many events downtown.
“They say we are having way to many events and they have to pay rent, electricity, insurance, paying employees and they are losing money because we are having so many events. Once in a while, but this is getting too much,” stated Mendoza. “I’ve gotten feedback on which street. Is it supposed to be this street because I see people going down this street and turn corners. I think we need to figure out how often. We do need to cut back.”
Mendoza also highlighted the farmers market is letting in some vendors who compete directly with some of the brick and mortar shops.
Meanwhile, Councilmember PA’Tanisha Pierson suggested that Brentwood look at removing some farmers market weekends noting other cities do not have farmers markets every weekend.
“We used to not have it every weekend, but it was the public who wanted it,” stated Mendoza. “We have to talk about it.”
Mendoza also suggested that with farmers markets on Saturday, why burden the downtown with back to back events and instead move some of them to Sundays.
“I don’t know what the answer is, but I feel like it’s the wild wild west,” said Mendoza.
As of July 3, City Manager Tim Ogden said in email they have not received any formal complaints regarding too many events.
Weekly Farmers Market
The Pacific Coast Farmers Market Association now hosts a year-round Brentwood Farmers Market in downtown Brentwood. During the winter hours, the Farmers Market is open from 7:30 am to 12:00 pm each Saturday.
2 comments
Jovita Mendoza loves herself.
Can’t tell you how many Brentwood residents love coming to the farmers market every Saturday but there’s a huge amount. It’s awesome to see downtown alive and not a ghost town anymore. We love the activities and that there are actual things to do now. These events bring in a ton of business to the brick and mortar businesses. Shut down events and let’s see how many lines are coming out their stores. People buy from them and enjoy those businesses because they are there for the events. I can promise you this the group of 15 that I’m part of that goes to the Farmer’s Market every Sat and eat at sip and scoop and the Cider house next door won’t be getting up and driving across town to do that if there’s no market. We’ll go somewhere else. There may be venders that offer similar services but let’s be real…Sip and scoop alway has a line out the door and so does Chrome Coffee. Why can’t everyone benefit. We own a real estate company in town. We are not the only ones in this town….when you have a great product competition shouldn’t be a threat.
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