Yucca Valley, CA, August 5, 2009 – After the Water Canyon Farmers Market closed down unexpectedly due to lack of sufficient business, the Earthwise co-op, which is located in a commercial space adjacent to the site of the former farmers market, remained open for business during the normal farmer’s market hours. Freshly picked produce provided by our partnership with Jaime Farms, is grown locally and does not contain pesticides, GMO or chemical fertilizers. The produce was brought in and setup inside the Earthwise co-op store. As a show of community support, the local news media, including The Hi-Desert Star and Z107.7 radio station promoted the event. The turnout was bigger than expected, and at times, the tiny co-op store was packed with standing room only and more people were waiting outside to get in and buy fresh produce. At the end of the day, hundreds of people showed up to support their local farm and most produce items were sold out. People were very happy to see that high quality produce was available at the site of the former farmer’s market, and glad to learn that the Water Canyon Farmers Market was in the process of re-opening after we obtain new permits for everything.

The tiny Earthwise co-op store in Yucca Valley, CA:

Some examples of high quality, freshly picked produce set out for purchase. Almost all of this was sold out and gone by the end of the day.

At times there were lines of people waiting to get into the co-op store!

A happy customer, selecting freshly picked heirloom tomatoes.

By Pam LaFosse
Special to The Trail

TWENTYNINE PALMS, August 5, 2009 — The Twentynine Palms Planning Commission has taken the first step toward establishing standards and criteria that would allow local growers to offer high-quality, organic produce to residents here.

After a study session Tuesday, Aug. 4 that saw several people speak in favor of amending the city’s Development Code to allow for certified farmers’ markets within the city, Chairman Bill Easter, Vice Chair Chuck Caplinger and Commissioners Carey Alderson, Dan Mintz and Rebecca Rinkes directed Community Development Director Charles LaClaire to research state and county regulations on farmers’ markets and bring a recommendation to the commission at its first meeting in October.

The study session drew an enthusiastic group of supporters to meeting, including Dr. Robert Ellis of Earthwise Organic Farms, who presented an overview of the structure and organization required for the operation of a successful farmers’ market.

According to Ellis, Earthwise has just established a new 640-acre farm on Sunfair Road in Joshua Tree and hopes to run the operation in Twentynine Palms.

Commissioners questioned Ellis at length about the technical aspects of farmers’ markets, including designating the market as certified.

“If you are using a certified farmers’ market, then only farmers that are certified by the Department of Agriculture can participate in the market,” Ellis told the panel. “We would set the market up in two divisions. One would be a certified farmers’ market, and the second part that would be off to the side would bring in other farmers and people who are involved with arts and crafts.”

The city has no deal with Ellis to manage a farmers’ market here. If the Planning Commission and City Council agree to allow farmers’ markets in the city, it would pave the way for Ellis and others to apply to run a market here.

In 2008, members of the Historic Plaza Merchants Association asked City Manager Michael Tree to meet with them and Joshua Tree Certified Farmers’ Market founder Lori Herbel to start the ball rolling on Development Code changes needed to allow such markets in the city.

Herbel did not attend Tuesday’s meeting but said Wednesday, Aug. 5 that she would attend the October meeting.

“If the city does pass having a certified farmers’ market they need to understand what that certificate looks like” so officials can ensure that the market is indeed certified, Herbel said.

Supporters of the amendment, retired university professor Vala Stultz and Homestead Inn Bed & Breakfast owner Jerri Hagman, offered to provide additional information and assistance to commissioners. Hagman also voiced concerns about the fees associated with starting up a farmers’ market, especially for conditional use permits, which LaClaire said are $3,400. LaClaire said fees would be addressed by the City Council when it considers the issue.

In other business, commissioners asked LaClaire to schedule a special meeting for Wednesday, Sept. 2 to discuss the issue of vacation home rentals.

Easter, who resigned as Planning Commission chair effective Monday, Aug. 17 so he can return to college to further his education, agreed to delay his departure until his replacement is appointed.

Application forms and a statement of duties for the Planning Commission are available at City Hall, 6136 Adobe Road, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Deadline for submission of applications is 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28.

A City Council task force will review applications, interview candidates and recommend an appointee in September. For more information, call City Hall at (760) 367-6799.

By Jimmy Biggerstaff
Hi-Desert Star

Yucca Valley, CA, August 5, 2009 — Notwithstanding its loss of permits and insurance to operate as a certified farmers market, the recently established market in Old Town will be open for business this afternoon.

“Despite enthusiastic responses from produce shoppers who visited the market during its first three weeks of operations, the turnout did not meet expectations,” wrote Liz Mediavilla in a news release.

Eric Mueller’s vacant lot west of Water Canyon Coffee Company had hosted the market.

“As anyone knows, it’s a challenge to launch a new business of any sort, especially during the summer,” Mueller said. “It takes time and we’re hoping the community will now realize how important it is to support these markets, both here and in Joshua Tree.”

Mueller said vendors will provide a “sampling from the new farmers market” from 3 to 8 p.m. today at Earthwise offices, 55818 Twentynine Palms Highway.

Permits are in the works, Mueller added, to bring the “full” farmers market out Aug. 12.

The Water Canyon Certified Farmers Market officially closed July 29, according to proprietor Lori Herbel.

“All permits and insurance have been withdrawn from the San Bernardino County Agriculture Department, the San Bernardino County Environmental Health Department and the Town of Yucca Valley,” Herbel said.

“In order for a certified farmers market to continue at the same location, the new proprietor will need to obtain proper permits.”

There are stringent regulations governing certified farmers markets, Herbel explained. “These regulations are in place to protect the integrity of the certified farmers markets and to protect the interests of the farmers (certified producers) and consumers.”

Herbel contacted the county agriculture department regarding certified farmers market certificates issued in the county. Officials informed Herbel they have not received a new application for a certified farmers market at the Water Canyon site; however, an inquiry was made to apply for an uncertified farmers market.

Herbel said in order to qualify for a certified farmers market certificate, the applicant must qualify either as a certified producer, municipality or nonprofit specifically formed to run certified farmers markets.

“It is important to know that without certified farmers markets, small farmers would become a distant memory,” Herbel said. “As a longtime small farmer and now market manager, I know first-hand how important it is to maintain the integrity of certified farmers markets for the future survival of small farmers.”

Hi Desert Star: Weekly market to re-open in Old Town Yucca