At least Marin City now has at least three initiatives to increase residents’ access to fresh produce: the Marin City Farm Stand (initiated by EECOM), the potential Marin City Flea Market, and the Marin Farmers’ Market. A real grocery store would be event better, as it would provide access to healthy foods 7 days a week, like the residents have been wishing for many years. Ericka
Marin City flea market on hold as new market emerges
Jim Staats
Posted: 06/11/2009 04:21:48 PM PDT
Organizers of Marin City’s re-emerging flea market have put this weekend’s scheduled opening on hold indefinitely over what they described as an “unfair” process for another market proposed nearby.
Meanwhile, the competing market in question, a new Southern Marin farmer’s market earmarked for the parking lot of the Gateway Shopping Center, recently was given the go-ahead by center management and tenants. It’s not set to begin until April and has yet to receive county approval.
The Marin City Community Services District would run the region’s first open-air market since a well-known flea market shut down more than a decade ago.
“If we were to spend money and have our market run second fiddle to someone else, I see that as unwise until we know the outcome of the agreement,” said district board member Robert Fisher.
The Marin City flea market, given county approval for a six-month use permit, was planned to run 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturdays at the Manzanita Center near Phillips Drive. Fare including organic vegetables, flowers and crafts would be sold among 25 vendors to raise funds for the district.
The farmer’s market proposal at Gateway, which rests on the site of the former Marin City flea market, was given a verbal approval by property manager, Blake Hunt Ventures, to offer 30 or 40 stalls of produce from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays as well. The venture would be run by local nonprofit Marin Farmers Market along with support from the Milagro Foundation.
Read more at:
http://www.marinij.com/marinnews/ci_12571842
Filed under: marin city | Tagged: farmers' market, flea market, marin city, Milagro Foundation
