One of the Key Assets of downtown Hayward is our weekly Farmers Market. The one-block stretch of Main Street between A and B is blocked off every Saturday morning, come rain or shine. The official posted hours are 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, but most of the vendors are set up and basically ready for business by about 8:00 AM, sometimes earlier.
This morning (1/28/2006) is actually the first Saturday in 2006 that I've been able to get to the market. Right now it's cold (about 50F), drizzly, and threatening to open up. Typical of a cold day in the Bay Area, where one is thinking of more inside activities than outside ones. Also, my impression of farmers markets in January is that of root vegetables: all the turnips, rutabagas and potatoes that really aren't that exciting.
Today's farmer market was a very pleasant surprise. In addition to the "vegetable guy" on the corner of B and Main, where I got celery, green & red bell peppers & yellow onions ($3.00 for all that!), there's the "smoked meats guy" (Cedar Creek Smoked Salmon out of Pt. Richmond) [http://cedarcreeksalmon.com/] where I picked up a half pint of salmon-horseradish pate for $5.00; the "cheese lady" (Spring Hills Dairy from Petaluma) [http://www.springhillcheese.com/] where I picked up a half pint of garlic quark for $5.00; and the "fish guy" where I picked up a fresh King Salmon steak, and a half pint of oysters.
There's also a new addition: a filipino food stand with pancit, lumpia and other yum yums. I probably will need to drop by in a few hours for lunch.
The Hayward Farmers Market is where I want to be every Saturday morning.
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