Farmers Markets: Grand Lake and other AIM

Squash Blossoms at the Grand Lake Farmer's Market in Oakland.

I attended a public meeting earlier this week in Oakland about the Grand Lake Farmer's Market, and the non-profit group AIM (Agricultural Institute of Marin) that organizes it and other farmer's markets in the Bay Area.

Heirloom Tomatoes at the Grand Lake Farmer's Market in Oakland.

 Two above and below: highlights from December 2015.

On background: there have been various complaints in the past, and AIM has a new CEO, Andy Naja-Riese, who gave a nice overview of his experience and how his background meshes with the objectives of AIM. He stressed the fact that they are trying to bring local produce from farmers, ranchers and fishers, along with local vendors of prepared foods, and local artisans.

White Eggplant at the Marin Farmer's Market in San Rafael.

 Above and two below: highlights from December 2015.

Naja-Riese puts emphasis on nutrition and getting more nourishing local foods to the community, especially via SNAP, WIC and the elderly.

Base Camp Bakery breads at the Grand Lake Farmer's Market. They use local grains in their products.

Oakland city council member Abel J. Guillen presented the speakers and helped facilitate the meeting with Andy, Tanya Small and others.

Melons at Grand Lake Farmer's Market.

Sebastopol Farmer's Market, September 2016.

Other AIM staffers were on hand to help answer questions during the Q&A and then during mini group discussions--very helpful, great communication skills, good listening skills and facilitating input from the community. Going into this meeting I suspected there was going to be a confrontational vibe, and instead it was all about everyone not just giving input but making tangible helpful suggestions, working together to brainstorm and talk out issues whether about parking, resolving problems during the market, and community input outside the room.

Oyster Mushrooms at the Grand Lake Farmer's Market.

French-style Sausages available at the Grand Lake Farmer's Market.

There was a good amount of talk about education outreach--AIM facilitates visits to farms for school kids, and there was talk about whether school kids can learn to garden and compost in their community or school grounds, or trying to change the relationship with local businesses that perhaps have been adversarial in the past to one in which we work together and start on a new foot.

Summer Squash on display at the Grand Lake Farmer's Market.

 Two above and below: highlights from December 2015.

Other discussion addressed transportation issues, and zero waste/compost.

Pies for sale at Grand Lake Farmer's Market.

Grand Lake Farmer's Market in Oakland happens every Saturday 9am to 2pm.

Marin Farmer's Market occurs every Thursday & Sunday 8am to 1pm, at the Marin Civic Center in San Rafael.

For more information on these and other farmer's markets, check out the website for the Agricultural Institute of Marin https://agriculturalinstitute.org


Photographs courtesy of Robin MacLean.