On Cedar and Lincoln streets since 1990, the Downtown Santa Cruz Farmers Market will move to Cedar and Church streets on May 21 to make way for library construction. (Tyler Maldonado — Santa Cruz Local)

Starting June 4, the downtown market is expected to be in its new location with the same 1-5 p.m. Wednesday hours. It will remain there for at least two years, said Santa Cruz city Communications Manager Erika Smart. From there, it could move to another location or stay there as plans evolve.

“The Farmers’ Market has the ability to choose its future permanent location, and our Economic Development team is committed to supporting them as they transition to a permanent home,” Smart wrote in an email.

Santa Cruz Community Farmers’ Markets also runs markets in Felton, Scotts Valley, Live Oak and the Westside. The downtown market is its largest and oldest market, and it offers a one-to-one match for EBT dollars spent there. EBT is California’s Electronic Benefit Transfer, which offers food money based on income.

The Downtown Santa Cruz Farmers Market will take place on Cedar Street, Church Street and a parking lot on Church Street in June. The streets will be closed 11a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays and the market runs 1-5 p.m. (Santa Cruz Community Farmers’ Markets)

Sandra Ward of New Natives Farm, right, is a co-founder of Santa Cruz Community Farmers’ Markets. She said it’s helped her develop personal relationships with customers. (Tyler Maldonado — Santa Cruz Local)

Vendors reflect 

Sandra Ward, owner of New Natives and a founder and Board President of Santa Cruz Community Farmers’ Markets, founded New Natives in 1982. She was part of the initial decision to locate the farmers market at the Lincoln Street location in 1990 after the Loma Prieta earthquake.

“This location is great. It’s like the only open space in Downtown Santa Cruz,” she said of the current lot. She was also involved in the decision to move the market to the new location on Cedar and Church streets.

“I’m sure things will change a little bit, you know, because we haven’t got there yet,” Ward said. “Although a lot of work has gone into it. A lot of work.”

She said a favorite memory of hers from her time at the current site was when the market operators caught someone trying to steal her farm’s money. “We had somebody abscond with the cashbox,” she said, “and the then-market manager jumped on them.”

Ward said her business has stood the test of time in part because of its close connections with customers. “The personal relationship development, telling me what they want. It’s really helped my business.”

“It’s really hard for small farmers to break in with the wholesalers,” she added, because the wholesalers want larger quantities rather than coordinating with many small farms. The market allows small farms to sell directly to consumers.

The number of small farms has decreased nationally since the late 1990s, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The number of farms with $50,000 to $500,000 in gross revenue declined by about 27% between 1997 and 2022, the agency stated.

Cerridwyn McLaglen, an employee of Blue Heron Farms, said her favorite memory of the downtown farmers market was “the shadows the trees make when it gets dark early.”

Founded in 1985 by people involved with the UC Santa Cruz’s Farm and Garden Apprenticeship program, Blue Heron was among the first organic farms in the county. “We’re just really hoping that we don’t lose more patrons than we already have in the last few years,” she said. “I guess [I’m] just hoping that the community can survive this change.”

McLaglen said business downtown, including the market, have slowed over the last several years. Customers have mentioned a lack of free parking as a problem, and McLaglen said she thinks the constant construction has added to the decline. 

Blue Heron co-owner Lori Perry said business has slowed since the pandemic. During the pandemic, the market was packed with shoppers who sought an outlet from shelter-in-place rules.

Plus, she said, people were buying more produce because many restaurants were closed and “everyone had to stay home and cook.”

Daniel Malillos buys produce at the market every week for Hanloh restaurant in Bad Animal. (Tyler Maldonado — Santa Cruz Local)

Daniel Mallilos said he liked that the current location was close to his work at Hanloh, a Thai restaurant inside of Bad Animal downtown, and was pleased about the new location too.

“Even more, absolutely,” he said.

Other customers were ambivalent about the move, since it is a few blocks’ difference.

“They’re close,” said Kayla Mitchell, who visits the market during work hours at Lúpulo Craft Beer House. “I just didn’t want it to be, like, not in walking distance to my work. But it is.”

Wik, the market manager, said she started working at the market over 20 years ago.

“We feel like it’s our own way to have a little village feeling in a larger town,” said Wik. She said she didn’t think the community built at the current lot would be lost in the move.

“Every farmers market we’ve ever done is an empty space,” she said. “We agree on showing up at a certain time, we position ourselves, we run the market, and we go home. So we’re gonna do that in a new space with hopefully a really good vibe.”

Maddie Spears of Blossom’s Biodynamic Farm sells endives to Cindy Lepore Hart for a “greens and beans” salad recipe. (Tyler Maldonado — Santa Cruz Local)

A parking lot on Church Street next to the downtown library is resurfaced Thursday. The lot and Church Street will host the farmers market in June. (Stephen Baxter — Santa Cruz Local)

Questions or comments? Email [email protected]. Santa Cruz Local is supported by members, major donors, sponsors and grants for the general support of our newsroom. Our news judgments are made independently and not on the basis of donor support. Learn more about Santa Cruz Local and how we are funded.