One sure sign that it’s summer – the Farmers Market. Open every Saturday starting at 8:30 a.m. and going until 1:00 p.m. and located at the Terrace Plaza shopping center – Valley Springs residents and visitors alike will enjoy the fresh produce and other things offered at our little farmers market. 
The “cat ladies” from the Calaveras Humane Society have a booth there – and it is indeed “kitten season” – so you can give a sweet little fur ball a home (or support their foster homes) while you’re there too.
On a recent Saturday, we stopped by the market and chatted a bit with Winter Creek Olives owner, Mary Anne. 
She sells her locally produced olive oil as well as some yummy “balm” made from olive oil combined with variety of scented oils. They also have filtered and unfiltered balsalmic vinegar from Italy. Winter Creek olives are all Calaveras grown, and hand picked by the Melson family. Their olives are pressed in Modesto by the Sciabica Family processors.
Also on hand with samples was Marido’s Deli.
We sampled a light and lovely “star thistle honey.” (I guess if the star thistle blight has to continue on the earth it might as well be good for something!) This is typically what we would find labeled “wild flower” honey – but since there is so much star thistle around they decided to name the wild flower most prevalently used by the honey bees. They have other types of honey too – we just tried that one – and it is wonderful. Marido’s Deli/Beyond Juice is located right there in the Terrace Plaza where the Farmers Market is held.
The ladies from Blue Sky Blueberries were there with samples and bags of the most luscious blueberries you will find in the foothills.
They explained that this year their crop had been so abundant that their regular customer orders had all been filled and they had so much extra they were at the farmer’s market with the rest. They weren’t sure how much longer they’d be manning the booth there at the market, but if you’re interested in some locally grown blueberries you can find out more about getting on their customer list at their web site.
So, you see – it’s always something new! Stop in some Saturday at the Terrace Plaza – and find out what’s being offered. And say hi to the Cat Ladies who work so hard at caring for and re-homing all the lost kitties they can handle.
Farmers Market Address
1906 Vista del Lago
Valley Springs, California
