Denise Kinabrew and her son, Nathan, 14, of Kinabrew Farms from Madera offer up a sweet grape morsel to a perspective little customer. Kinabrew had more than six varieties of grapes including raisins at their stand.
Lauren Glikin and husband Andrew of Mariposa have been steadily growing their ‘Raw Roots Farm’ biodynamic fresh produce for nearly five years while raising their two young children.
Eduardo Lujan of Vista Ranch offers in season farm fresh fruits and vegetables including kale, fennel, spinach, eggplant and plenty of ripe figs to boot.
Atwater High school star student Gabby Lucas, 17, is working towards her education while proudly helping out her agriculture high school teacher Natalie Borba, a passionate goat farmer and owner of ‘Vintage Farm Suds’ handmade goat milk soaps and lotions.
A stunning variety of handcrafted all natural soy wax scented melts with more than 16 scents to choose from including seasonal fragrances such as pumpkin spice.
Chelsea Gonzalez owner of ‘Modern Wholistic’ presents her handcrafted natural fragrance soy wax melts on her first day exhibiting at the Merced Certified Farmers’ Market.
By LYNDA BROMMAGE
What better way to spend a Saturday morning and early afternoon than paying a visit to the Merced Certified Farmers’ Market.
Even if you have a hangover from an active Friday night, it’s a good way to recuperate by strolling around all the farm fresh foods and goodies.
Bring the kids, and your own bag if you can, and stock up on local good foods and the like; including a variety of fresh seasonal fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, and fresh bread. Get there early because the artisan bread tends to run out within the first hour or two.
Shoppers will also find organic eggs, grass-fed livestock meats, local honey, tree nuts, local olive oil, goat milk lathery soaps and lotions, aromatics for every taste and season to just about everything under the sun.
And when your done, saunter over to the masseuse booth and get a massage for good measure. There’s something for everyone.
But there is another good reason to visit your local Farmers’ Market. There is a new addition to the market: Chelsea Gonzalez of “Modern Wholistic.” She is an innovative gal who is exhibiting her handcrafted, natural fragrance-oil infused, soy wax melts. You might find it better than smoking incense or burning candles. She came up with the idea after enduring a sensitivity to scented candles and other toxic scented infused products. She has a passion for natural, safe, hypoallergenic, non-toxic aromatic products. For the past three years she offered her original melts mostly online. As a mother of two small children and a wife with a full-time working husband, she is homebound and is now sharing her passion for quality local goods. This past Saturday at the market was her first time to exhibit. Gonzalez is originally from Atwater but now lives in Los Banos with her family.
The Merced Farmers Market is right behind Bob Heart Square in the parking lot on the corner of 16th & Canal streets. Open every Saturday, rain or shine, from 8 a.m. to noon. However, come Nov. 7, the new winter hours will be 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Wear your masks, stay healthy, eat well, and lather up. See you there!