After getting through a lengthy stretch of triple digit days, the temperature still reached the upper 90s on July 19, keeping crowd numbers down slightly for the once-a-month Escalon Farmers Market.
There was a bit of a breeze for those attending and those running the vendor booths also did their best to keep cool while they displayed and sold their wares. The kids corner again was busy, there was live music on stage, some fresh fruit and vegetable vendors, and plenty of merchandise options.
Victoria Zitrin of San Francisco was helping out at the Zinc House Farms booth, which had some free samples of fresh produce, along with honey, lavender oil and more for sale. Zitrin, who runs the non-profit VenturaVie, has partnered with Zinc House to do some programs there this summer. She said the VenturaVie organization helps other charitable groups with a focus on youth, women and artistic development. With Zinc House, they have joined forced for a ‘HiVe Summer Series’ that allows kids from a variety of backgrounds “the chance to appreciate nature.”
There was also plenty of fresh produce for sale at the SONS Farm Fresh booth; the sibling-run business out of nearby Oakdale has been a staple at the market throughout its run so far this season.
Market organizer Megan McNinch said this month also featured a special drawing, with a package including items from a number of the vendors, with the prize pack put together by the Escalon Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber hosts the monthly market, which runs the third Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Attendees at the market received a card for the drawing if they purchased an item from any of the vendors during a 5 p.m. to 6:25 p.m. time frame; they turned that card in at the Chamber booth to redeem it for a ticket. The drawing was then hosted at 6:30 p.m.
The package for the drawing was won by Kaity French of Escalon; it included a $50 gift certificate to SONS Farm Fresh, a $30 gift certificate to Stuyt Dairy Farmstead Cheese and a $20 gift certificate to MATKAT Sourdough, all in attendance at the July 19 market.
Also included was a pair of tickets to the Saturday, Sept. 30 Escalon Wine and Brew Stroll, a downtown event hosted by the Chamber of Commerce.
McNinch said though the weather was the hottest it has been since the market opened its run back in April, vendors stayed fairly busy and the addition of the prize drawing was popular with those attending. She is hoping the Wednesday, Aug. 16 event will feature lower temperatures and a larger crowd.
