Library Park was a beautiful place to have the markets at and we will miss it. Our problem has always been trying to get enough Lake County producers to attend. There are not many farmers in Lake County to begin with (considering its size), and even fewer who choose the “direct to the public” venue of farmers' markets.

I hope that this will change as “local” is becoming an ever more important attribute to food due to rising fuel costs, corporate fraud in the food industry, and due to an increased awareness of the importance of supporting local business and the power of a local economy, however we choose to define those.

Lake County Farmers' Finest defines local as “Lake County,” but the most important thing I look for when it comes to fresh food is “in-season.”

Food is at the peak of freshness, nutritional content, and at its most sustainable when purchased during its natural season and produced in a location sharing the same season as you do. This does not mean I don't make exceptions for coffee, chocolate and the occasional banana, but you get the idea!

It takes a critical mass of vendors to make a market attractive to customers, and since I run "farmers" markets those vendors should for the most part be farmers and not artists and craft folks, even though without those it would not be half as fun!

Luckily for us, Sky Hoyt Specialty Grower has decided to attend our midweek market but since he can only do this on Tuesday mornings we are not going to hold the Wednesday Evening Market at Library Park this upcoming season.  

The new Tuesday Morning Market will be held June through September at the same time and location as our Saturday Morning Market (May 4 through October 26), 8:30 a.m. to noon at Steele Wines on Thomas Drive, off Highway 29 near Finley. This will help reduce our overhead and simplify advertising and signage.

For more information on Lake County Farmers' Finest, vendor applications, and (soon to be posted) upcoming schedules for cooking demos and musicians, please visit www.lakecountyfarmersfinest.org .

I look forward to seeing many of you again at the opening of the farmers' market season in Lake County, at Steele Wines on May 4, rain or shine.

Cornelia Sieber-Davis is manager of Lake County Farmers' Finest, based in Lake County, Calif. For more information email her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .