Dublin Farmers’ Market on Target to Launch in Spring 2011
The Dublin City Council voted unanimously to “conceptually support” a Dublin Farmers’ Market that will launch in Spring 2011. The new Farmers’ Market will be held on Friday evenings from 4PM to 8PM at Emerald Glen Park on the Gleason Drive side. The Dublin Farmers’ Market will be distinct from other farmers’ markets in that it will feature live music and other forms of entertainment to augment the parade of organic fruits, farm-fresh vegetables, kettle corn, baked goodies, and other farmers’ market staples. The goal is to merge some of the current city programs in Dublin like the Summer Concert Series and movie nights with the new Friday night Farmers’ Market. Local businesses and restaurants at The Shops at Waterford may also benefit from the increased foot traffic, once the new Farmers’ Market becomes a destination spot in Dublin. “I’m very excited as I can just walk over to purchase fresh fruits from local farmers and use it for our toppings,” said Jonathan Rim, the owner of Blush Organic Frozen Yogurt.
Council’s support was bolstered by the more than 97% of survey respondents who voted in favor of a farmers’ market in Dublin. More than 900 residents participated in the survey, and most of them voted for the potential market location closest to their home. Most of the people living west of Silvergate, for example, voted to have the market at the future Dublin Historic Park. Residents living in central Dublin, on the other hand, voted to have the market at Dublin Place (the Target shopping center), while most of the folks in east Dublin voted to have the Farmers’ Market at Emerald Glen Park. Based on the survey results, the Historic Park was top choice for Dublin’s new Farmers’ Market, and Emerald Glen Park was the second most popular choice. As for the preferred time slot, Saturday and Sunday came in first and second, respectively. Friday was a distant third place.
Although Friday nights ranked a distant third choice on the survey, the Pacific Coast Farmers Market Association (PCFMA) felt that this time slot would be the best night for the Dublin farmers’ market, since it would not conflict with some of the other existing farmers’ markets in the Tri-Valley. Additionally, while Emerald Glen Park was a second choice on the survey, PCFMA felt that this location would be the most optimal choice for a vibrant and successful farmers’ market. PCFMA’s decision could have been colored by the fact that Dublin’s previous Farmers’ Market, which ultimately failed after a year, was held at the site of the future Dublin Historic Park about ten years ago.
Do you have a suggestion for the live entertainment at Dublin’s new Farmers’ Market? If so, please feel contact Assistant Director of Parks & Community Services Paul McCreary at (925)556-4500 and share your ideas with him.
12:28 AM on February 22nd, 2010
Well, there’s nothing like listening to the voice of the people… and the decision they made is not even close to listening to the voice of the people. Still, at least it’s coming
9:34 AM on February 22nd, 2010
Listening to the people is overrated. If Dana White listened to the people on the internet, he’d have never made Ken Shamrock vs. Tito Ortiz. Instead, he listened to his gut, booked the fight, and it did record business and a record viewing audience. Paul Boesch once did a survey with his audience to see what wrestling match they wanted to see most, so he booked it, and it bombed. And if you read Cosmo, women say they want nice guys, and if you look at real life, it’s the exact opposite.
True leaders don’t “listen to people.” They make the right decisions, and implement them in a way so that they are successful, regardless of what people say they want. Because the truth is that people don’t always know what’s best, and they also don’t always tell the truth, even when they think they are.
Friday nights at Emerald Glen is the right decision, even if it wasn’t everyone’s first choice.
12:43 PM on February 22nd, 2010
Yeah, people are stupid and don’t know what they want, just listen to your gut..how about we invade Afghanistan and Iraq and cut taxes.
12:52 PM on February 22nd, 2010
Agreed, and thank goodness our commander in chief at the time did those things.
1:24 PM on March 2nd, 2010
woosh!
11:12 AM on February 22nd, 2010
People in West Dublin can just go to the Stoneridge or San Ramon Farmers Market in the weekend. It’s just a skip and a hop away.
11:53 AM on February 22nd, 2010
Then the people of West Dublin can go there. The people of East Dublin and Blackhawk will go to Emerald Glen Park.
1:59 PM on February 22nd, 2010
Why wouldn’t on the Western side of Dublin don’t want to travel to the Eastern side for the Farmers’ Market to support Dublin (local businesses, tax revenue, etc.)? It’s only a 10 minute drive away.
9:15 PM on February 22nd, 2010
local businesses? you know the farmers market venders are not from dublin, right?
9:55 PM on February 25th, 2010
The idea you need to support Dublin businesses is such a crock. I saw Kasie Hildenbrand shopping at Wal-Mart last weekend. Yes, Wal-Mart, in PLEASANTON. She could’ve gone to Target and given her tax dollars to Dublin, but she didn’t. And there’s nothing wrong with that. If Dublin wants us to spend our money here, then they need to bring retailers here worth spending money on. Give more incentives to businesses to set up shop here, and they will come.
If our elected officials will shop in Pleasanton, then why shouldn’t Dublin residents shop there too?
10:56 PM on March 23rd, 2010
well, i’ve seen someone who looked like her coming out of that std clinic on santa rita getting god knows what checked out. i hope a certain supervisor will be okay. no wonder liberals like her want other people to pay for their healthcare. mcnerney should have voted no. voters will punish him come november.
6:49 PM on May 2nd, 2010
While not all vendors are local businesses, the association putting the farmers markets together make an effort to ensure that local businesses get first opportunity. From their mission statement:
PCFMA believes each farmers’ market should be a reflection of the community it serves and a resource for those that call that community home. That is why most of PCFMA’s markets make space available for local businesses to promote themselves and for local nonprofits and community groups to promote their services. Because each market is unique, the way in which this happens varies from community to community. PCFMA is fortunate to partner with local groups – such as chambers of commerce, merchants’ associations, downtown associations, and Main Street projects – that share PCFMA’s goal of creating and sustaining community-based markets and that help to guide the participation of local businesses and community organizations.
8:26 AM on February 22nd, 2010
I am glad that the PCFMA agreed with my preferences!
They’ll be getting my family’s business for sure. Can’t wait!
11:22 AM on February 22nd, 2010
This is great– I can imagine walking down to the market on Friday evening with my family– enjoying the park, the stands, the music, and then walking to a restaurant in Waterford Plaza or Grafton Station (hopefully by then)..
I actually like the Friday night plan, it’s a good family thing to do together and the park is large enough to handle the crowds as well as provide additional activities for family members (skate park, tennis, basketball, etc) like teenagers who may not want to hang out all the time with their family..
7:29 PM on February 22nd, 2010
I was sent the survey and I completed it, choosing Emerald Glen as it’s closest to my house.
Thanks!
8:42 PM on February 22nd, 2010
While I did not vote for it to be on Friday nights, now that I think about it, its a great idea. Its a live event every Friday to bring Dublin residents together for something fun and family-friendly. Everybody wins.
7:20 PM on February 24th, 2010
I think this is a great plan. I live on the west side and although I obviously didn’t pick the Glen, I love the idea of integrating with other activities on a Friday evening. Great job Dublin! My family is excited!
2:47 PM on April 2nd, 2010
This is GREAT news!!!
3:56 PM on April 22nd, 2010
why can’t it open earlier?
1:24 PM on June 22nd, 2010
I used to live in a community that also sponsored a “Chef’s Market” on the weekends. It was similar to a farmer’s market, but also included many local restaurants that set up booths and served various selections from their in-house menus. Since the farmer’s market will be in the evening, perhaps it would also be a good idea to entice local restaurants to participate, therby providing some dining options for the shoppers. It might also enhance the local restaurant scene here in Dublin.
1:57 PM on June 22nd, 2010
Good idea!
10:58 AM on June 29th, 2010
off topic a bit, i heard there’s a block party on july 4th in dublin ranch. anyone know if that’s true?