The City of Palo Alto, along with Capay Valley Growers, and IDEO, bring a new mid-week opportunity for downtown employees and residents to socialize and buy fresh, local, organic produce at the new Palo Alto Community Farmshop. The weekly event will take place on the Palo Alto City Hall King Plaza, 250 Hamilton Avenue each Wednesday 4-6pm starting April 22 and will run through October.  This collaborative effort seeks to make it easier to buy and eat good, fresh, local food while building community and direct ties between Palo Alto and its “foodshed”—the region where Palo Alto’s food is produced.

Palo Alto Mayor Peter Drekmeier and City Manager Jim Keene will kick off this April 22 Earth Day event.  Activities will include entertainment by local Bluegrass band, The Mighty Crows, olive oil and food tastings, cooking demonstrations with local Chef Laura Stec, and participation from additional local food and garden organizations.

The Palo Alto Community Farmshop is a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, which consists of subscribers who receive a weekly box of produce from local farms.  Additional vendors will sell produce and other agricultural products during the same program hours.  CSA programs are different from farmers’ markets in that through their monthly fee, subscribers actually pledge support to a collaboration of farm operations so that the farmland becomes a community farm and growers and consumers provide mutual support and share the risks and benefits of food production.

The Palo Alto Community Farmshop is already signing up subscribers including Palo Alto Mayor Peter Drekmeier and City Manager Jim Keene.  “I’m really looking forward to this program,” says Keene. “We can meet the people who grow the food we eat. The Farmshop on King Plaza outside City Hall will also be a place where citizens and downtown workers can meet each week around good food.  I think it will be a great addition to downtown this summer.” Staff hopes that additional locations for the Palo Alto Community Farmshop can be set up around town in months to come. To learn more about Palo Alto Community Farmshop and to subscribe visit Capay Valley Growers website, www.capayvalleyfarmshop.com, or sign up at the April 22 or subsequent Wednesday events.

Capay Valley Growers will also be participating at the LIVIN’ LOCAL Earth Day Celebration on Saturday, April 18, at the Lucie Stern Center, 1305 Middlefield Ave, Palo Alto, where community members can sign up in advance for FarmShares in person, www.cityofpaloalto.org/earthday.

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