[UPDATED] The Emery Weekly Farmers’ Market Resumes

June 24, 2024
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2 mins read

A new Farmers’ Market kicked off at The Emery Apartment complex on Saturday. The event included over a dozen local vendors selling the typical fresh fruits and vegetables as well as cut flowers, salmon and organic eggs.

There was no public promotion of the event by The Emery or the city that we’re aware of although sandwich boards were placed on Park Avenue at Hubbard.

The weekly events are being put on by the Regional Farmers’ Market Association who also coordinate a recurring event in San Jose.

The location is between buildings B1 and B2 which is the small plaza area at 45th & Hubbard and accessible via The Lab pedestrian cut through at 45th & Horton St.

Residents were delighted but puzzled by the lack of awareness of the event and patronage was reportedly sparse. There was no mention of the event to residents of The Emery until a few minutes prior via their newsletter.

Farmers’ Market and Off the Grid events have been tried many times before in the city, but they’ve all eventually petered out.

If the event is to attract enough patronage to make it a sustainable weekly event, they’ll likely need to engage in promotion beyond just the immediate neighborhood. The proximity to nearby Huchiun Park and the attraction by families gives this attempt a better chance of succeeding.

6/27 Update: Events Temporary Suspended

The E’ville Eye reached out to the city and Quarterra (who own and manage The Emery Complex) to inquire about the lack of promotion for the event.

According to City of Emeryville City Clerk April Richardson, the necessary permits to host these events have not been completed and The Emery will need to pause these events until then.

The City has been in discussions with Quaterra/The Emery staff regarding a potential Farmers’ Market. However, due to a miscommunication, the actual starting date and necessary permits were not finalized. They are currently in the process of preparing and submitting the required documents for approval.

Unfortunately, it seems that it might be too late to coordinate everything by the end of this week, and the Farmers’ Market will not have the necessary permits to proceed this weekend.

The news is especially perplexing as this years’ Mayor Courtney Welch was in attendance at the event and promoted it through her “official” X account.

Councilmember Kalimah Priforce, acknowledging the excitement for these events by residents and their likely disappointment, attempted to expedite the permitting process but was denied. “I’d like this to be fast-tracked so that their continuity isn’t broken,” he communicated to City Staff.

“Unfortunately not given the short timing. We’re working to fast track it so they can be back and running next Saturday and even that is a push for staff who have other items ahead of it,” City Manager Paul Buddenhagen explained.

Once this permitting is resolved, these events will take place every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. through October, 2024.

7/6 Update

Permitting for the events has been secured and these market’s have resumed.

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Rob Arias

is a third generation Californian and East Bay native who lived in Emeryville from 2003 to 2021. Rob founded The E'ville Eye in 2011 after being robbed at gunpoint and lamenting the lack of local news coverage. Rob's "day job" is as a creative professional.

1 Comment

  1. Classic bureaucracy. The tax payers suffer while paper pushers waste oxygen and wag their finger. A permit for people to sell fruit and veggies from folding tables… this is the state of our society?

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