The Healdsburg Farmers' Market Last Day On The Plaza Ends More Than A Ritual

HEALDSBURG, CA — Tuesday marked the last day for the weekday farmers' market until the spring, but the last one in the Healdsburg plaza.

When the Tuesday market resumes next year, it — along with the larger Saturday one, too — will be in the new Foley Family Community Pavilion on North Street just below Healdsburg Avenue.

The move to a permanent enclosed hall will mark a turning point for a market that started in a parking lot.

But the move is one that not everyone is happy about.

The move is not a good one for Tuesdays, said the market's manager, Janet Ciel.

The Tuesday market hosts about 30 sellers, making it the smaller of the two. However, in this case, location, not size, is the issue.

The Tuesday market depends on foot traffic from tourists clustered around the plaza.

About half of shoppers are tourists, she said, compared to about a third at the Saturday market.

Another chunk of sales come from people working in industries that cater to the tourists — restaurants, bakeries, cafes, hotels, and boutiques.

Celebrity chef Charlie Palmer was spotted at Gourmet Growers mushroom stand Tuesday to buy shiitakes and brown clamshells.

Tourists and the workers who cater to them can take advantage of the Tuesday market right outside their door.

The workers are too busy on Saturdays and less likely to walk several blocks to North Main Street, Ciel said.

Residents go out of their way to avoid the plaza on weekends and if they can shop at the plaza on Tuesdays.

Ciel predicted they and tourists will continue to stick to a few blocks around the plaza instead of following the signs to the Foley Pavillion.

The Tuesday market shuts down in the fall because there are fewer tourists, families free for the summer months, and summer residents.

Foot traffic is hard to come by on streets like North Main, despite being just a few blocks from the plaza.

Businesses have to work hard to get their share, or what share they can get.

The Foley Pavilion could help attract more foot traffic, but Ciel said, "Who's going to find it?"

Gourmet Growers mushroom vendor Duncan Soldner said tourists buy food they can eat by hand and don't have to cook, such as strawberries, apples, and stone fruit.

"What's a tourist going to do with a mushroom," he said.

His Healdsburg customers are mainly restaurants, including six within a half block of the plaza like Healdsburg Valette, The Matheson, Spoonbar in the H2Hotel, Willi's, and Sheltons.

Healdsburg resident Sunni Ashley said Saturday's market is much bigger, but not as convenient for her.

However, Ashley said she is prepared to go out of her way to shop at the Ortiz Family Farm stand, where on Tuesday she bought cauliflower, onions, and a few other ingredients for soup.

"It's worth it," Ashley said.