Farmers markets rebound, but pandemic effects linger
By Edgar Sanchez Michael and Nancy Neils knew exactly what they wanted—and where to find it— at the certified farmers market at Arden Fair Mall in Sacramento. The Sacramento couple marched from booth to booth at the outdoor market, pur- chasing $70 in fruits, vegetables and eggs in a mere 15 minutes, while chit-chatting with their favorite farmer vendors. “We’ve been coming to this farmers market for many years,” Michael Neils, a retired electrical engineer and entrepre- neur, said. “Everything here is fresh, and we’re supporting the local farmers.” These days, California’s farmers markets depend on loyal customers like the Neils to navigate through difficult times. Many ven- dors at the markets are recovering from ear- ly months of the pandemic in 2020, when markets closed. The closures hurt many farmers who were cut off from customers. Now, farmers face a third year of drought and sky-high fuel and fertilizer costs. But the farmers-market sector is rebounding, reaffirming its place in California agriculture and its appeal with the produce-shopping public. According to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, the state boasts 750 certified farmers markets and 2,700
certified producers. Sixty percent of the markets are year-round, and most season- al markets operate from April to October. Crowds are now peaking with summer’s arrival, along with popular seasonal items such as watermelons, peaches, oranges and cherries. “We’re doing very well right now,” said Amy Arnold, who manages four farmers markets in Los Angeles County’s San Gabriel Valley. “All the summer fruit is out, beautiful stone fruit, cantaloupes, watermelons, nec- tarines, and everybody’s looking.” Despite being declared essential businesses during the pandemic, many farmers markets collapsed as pro- duce-buying customers vanished or as cities imposed restrictions. Three of Arnold’s farmers markets were shut down in March 2020 as a precaution by the cities of Monterey Park, Covina and Rosemead. All reopened two months later with COVID protocols in place. Arnold’s West Covina market, which had set proto- cols in place, never closed. “COVID was very hard,” Arnold said. “We had to follow the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) guidelines. Everybody had to wear masks. We had caution tape, signs with instructions for people to follow.” The pandemic cut some of her vendors’
Vincent Garcia of J&J Ramos Farms sells oranges to Michael and Nancy Neils at the certified farm- ers market at Arden Fair Mall in Sacramento, where several markets closed during the pandemic.
profits, to the point they are still trying to recover, Arnold said. “With the higher price of gasoline and the water shortage,” she said, “they hate to raise their prices for cus- tomers, so that makes it even harder, trying to balance between the farmers making a profit and providing affordable fruits and vegetables to the community.” Leonard Lozano, who runs four farmers markets throughout Los Angeles County, is seeing a business resurgence—though challenges remain. All four of his markets closed as cus- tomers scattered in the early days of the pandemic. One in Torrance reopened after
being closed five months in 2020 and the others in Glendale, Sylmar and Downey came back to life in ensuing months. “COVID hit us pretty hard,” said Lozano, who noted that three of his markets are do- ing well now that customers have returned. The exception is the Glendale market, where sales are down 90% in a financial center that formerly bustled with workers. “People continue to work at home,” Lozano said. “Right now, it’s also a transi- tion from COVID to high gas prices.” In Sacramento, the transfer of workers,
See MARKETS, Page 12
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Taxes, freight, s etup, delivery, additional options or attachments not included in suggested retail price. Offer is nontransferable. Offer subject to change or cancellation without notice. **Cash back amounts vary and are applied at time of sale. Cash b ack offers are only available when nancing purchase with CNH Industrial Capital America LLC or CNH Industrial Capital Canada Ltd. Offer ends December 31, 2022; subject to change or cancellation without notice. © 2022 CNH fi I fi ndustrial America LLC. All rights reserved. CNH Industrial Capital and New Holland are trademarks registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or af liates. *For Commercial use only. Customer participation subject to credit qualification and approval by CNH Industrial Capital America LLC or CNH Industrial Capital Canada Ltd. See your participating New Holland dealer for details and eligibility requirements. Down payment may be required. Offer good through December 31, 2022. Not all customers or applicants may qualify for this rate or term. CNH Industrial Capital America LLC and CNH Industrial Capital Canada Ltd. standard terms and conditions apply. Canada Example: The interest rate will be 0% for 12 months. Total contract term is 12 months. Based on a retail contract date of March 1, 2022, with a suggested retail price on a new WORKMASTER™ 105 Tier 4, ROPS of C$92,579 customer provides down payment of C$18,515.79 and finances the balance of C$74,063.16 at 0% per annum for 12 months. There will be 12 equal monthly payments of C$6,171.93. The total amount payable will be C$74,063.16, which includes finance charges of C$0. Taxes, freight, setup, delivery, additional options or attachments not included in suggested retail price. Offer is nontransferable. Offer subject to change or cancellation without notice. **Cash back amounts vary and are applied at time of sale. Cash back offers are only available when financing purchase with CNH Industrial Capital America LLC or CNH Industrial Capital Canada Ltd. Offer ends December 31, 2022; subject to change or cancellation without notice. © 2022 CNH Industrial America LLC. All rights reserved. CNH Industrial Capital and New Holland are trademarks registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates. fi fi nances the balance of C$74,063.16 at 0% per annum for 12 months. There will be 12 equal monthly payments of C$6,171.93. The total amount payable will be C$74,063.16, which includes nance charges of C$0. Taxes, freight, s etup, delivery, additional options or attachments not included in suggested retail price. Offer is nontransferable. Offer subject to change or cancellation without notice. **Cash back amounts vary and are applied at time of sale. Cash b ack offers are only available when nancing purchase with CNH Industrial Capital America LLC or CNH Industrial Capital Canada Ltd. Offer ends December 31, 2022; subject to change or cancellation without notice. © 2022 CNH fi I fi ndustrial America LLC. All rights reserved. CNH Industrial Capital and New Holland are trademarks registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or af liates. * For Commercial use only. Customer participation subject to credit quali cation and approval by CNH Industrial Capital America LLC or CNH Industrial Capital Canada Ltd. See your participating fi N ew Holland dealer for details and eligibility requirements. Down payment may be required. Offer good through December 31, 2022. Not all customers or applicants may qualify for this rate or term. C NH Industrial Capital America LLC and CNH Industrial Capital Canada Ltd. standard terms and conditions apply. 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Based on a retail contract date of March 1, 2022, with a suggested retail price on a new WORKMASTER™ 105 Tier 4, ROPS of C$92,579 customer provides down payment of C$18,515.79 and * For Commercial use only. Customer participation subject to credit quali cation and approval by CNH Industrial Capital America LLC or CNH Industrial Capital Canada Ltd. See your participating fi N ew Holland dealer for details and eligibility requirements. Down payment may be required. Offer good through December 31, 2022. Not all customers or applicants may qualify for this rate or term. C NH Industrial Capital America LLC and CNH Industrial Capital Canada Ltd. standard terms and conditions apply. Canada Example: The interest rate will be 0% for 12 months. Total contract term is 12 m onths. Based on a retail contract date of March 1, 2022, with a suggested retail price on a new WORKMASTER™ 105 Tier 4, ROPS of C$92,579 customer provides down payment of C$18,515.79 and
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