Farmers Rebound from Heavy Rain, Produce Demand Expected Ahead of Thanksgiving
John Palminteri
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – The Santa Barbara Farmers Market annually anticipates one of its busiest days of the year on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, and this year it is slightly more challenging after historic rains recently.
Many growers have spent extra time washing and prepping their produce including lettuce, spinach, kale, broccoli, carrots and cauliflower.
The demand is high for the ingredients that make up holiday side dishes and stuffing recipes.
On Saturday, the crowds were loading up in downtown Santa Barbara, and adding bunches of fresh flowers that were selling briskly.
The Tuesday market covers several blocks and many farmers added extra boxes of produce from their farms.
Tom Sheppard with Sheppard Farms says he hit the mark by bringing 300 pounds of green beans for sale on Saturday and Tuesday. He saked them and strung them up this month to keep them from falling in the mud during the rain.
Onr shopper, Emma Cantu who is also a personal chef said, “everything at the Farmer’s Market is fresh. Everything. Yeah, everything. You buy it at the store. You don’t know how long it’s been there. “
One farmers made it through the rainy weather and harvested several hundred pounds of green beans. The owner of Sheppard Farms, Tom Sheppard said, “they talk casseroles. They talk steaming. Yeah. It’s got to be on the table , you have to have green beans.”
As for the powerful weather that came through recently he said, “the rain was beautiful, actually. And I was really smart this year. I staked and strung the beans. And there’s so many beams on the plants that the rain or the rain would have knocked the beams over into the mud. But because there’s stacked and strong, they’re beautiful. “
One shopper knew exactly the ingredients she needed for the holiday stuffing. Emma Cantu said, “the stuffing is onions, celery, butter. Chicken broth or, you know, turkey broth. You can get any nuts, you know, you can use pecans, walnuts, chestnuts are beautiful right now. And we have chestnuts here in Santa Barbara. It’s rare.”
Mike Iniguez at Mike’s Organic Produce said, he had a freshly washed and pick lineup. “Kale for salad, persimmons, squash, cabbage and beets. “
Surrounded by avocados, lemons, cheramoyas and popular plant cuttings, Mikayla Marquez said, “you should be bringing your Carpinteria locally grown avocados. You can never go wrong with a little side of guac or a little slice of avocado with your turkey, with your mashed potatoes. You can’t go wrong. Guacamole is year round around here.”
She also had freshly made wreaths hanging around the booths.
Erik Van Wingerden with Myriad Flowers was surrounded by fresh cut stems. “Flowers are great. Put them on the table, people love to have fresh flowers in the house. I always love the multi colored spray roses as a nice gift for people.” He suggested flowers if you are having a get together and you don’t make a dish. Some of the buckets had lillies, marigolds and sunflowers.
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