The St. Helena Farmers' Market through a visitor's eyes

After 38 seasons, some of us might take our wonderful Farmers' Market for granted. When I make my weekly visit to our market, I often have tunnel vision and head straight for what I know I need; so it was a treat to bring out-of-town guests to our market and to see it through their eyes.

The first thing they noticed was the vast array of vendors and the variety of our programs. They examined the boards at the west-side entrance and were delighted by the listing of the day's activities and promise of those coming. What struck them most was the diversity of the products we offer. The gorgeous displays of fresh fruits and vegetables delighted them. They were equally impressed by the friendliness of our vendors and their willingness to give samples. Santa Rosa Seafood's display had them positively drooling.

But it was the prepared foods that really stole their hearts. Breakfast tacos from Ray Ray's, cinnamon buns from Natalia's Dacha and almond croissants from West Won Bakery proved to be irresistible. They truly wanted to sample something from every vendor we passed!

Watching my guests exclaim their delight made me realize once again how lucky we are to have such an extraordinary and well-run market every week.

Friday, Aug. 30 is going to be another terrific market day. We have a great Chef's Demo at 10:30 a.m. featuring chef Sarah Heller, one of our most popular local chefs who has worked in Michelin-starred kitchens, prestigious wineries and is now a sought-after private chef. She'll be sharing her delicious chilled corn and zucchini bisque with bay shrimp.

Stop by the Market Classroom for a free take-home activity while supplies last. And Christine Prendergast from Fantasy Face Painting will once again be joining us from 8:30 a.m. until noon. In addition, the St. Helena Hospital Foundation's Mobile Van will be parked at the west end of the market offering health assessments (screening for blood pressure, A1C, total cholesterol) and flu vaccinations.

We invite you to join us every Friday morning through Oct. 25 from 7:30 a.m. until noon in Crane Park. To make sure that you don't miss any of our exciting events, please consult our website, subscribe to our newsletter, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Nextdoor St. Helena.

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