Oak Park Farmers Market in Sacramento to cease operations
Sacramento's Oak Park farmers market won't be returning this spring, organizers announced this week.
The Food Literacy Center ran the market for the past three years, which was held every Saturday morning from mid-May through October.
A multi-year grant – which was secured with help from then-Assemblymember Kevin McCarty – was helping it continue.
But organizers announced Wednesday they had decided to end the market's run because of poor financial viability.
The Food Literacy Center cites a high cost of food, as well as lower participation from farmers and a drop in attendance, for the closure.
"At the end of the day, the customers just weren't there to justify the cost of the program," said Amber Stott, founder and CEO of the center.
Rather than continue, the center is redirecting resources to expand its core programs to reach more of the community and increase the amount of produce distributed to kids and families.
Stott said the need is urgent, with 40% of local kids facing childhood obesity and only 4% getting their daily recommended vegetables.
"We want to reach those families. We want those families to have fruits and vegetables, but we want to do it in a way that is the best stewards of our donations and has the most impact to families," she said.