Guadalupe takes steps to hold future farmers market

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LeRoy Park should be the site for the Cosecha Guadalupe Farmers Market by January 2026, if everything goes according to plan. 

On July 8, the Guadalupe City Council temporarily waived the park’s $650 per day rental fee for the market’s first six months—clearing the way for the market to apply to become a certified farmers market with the state. 

Before the Cosecha Guadalupe Farmers Market could apply with the California Department of Food and Agriculture for certification, it needed to nail down its location, Stephanie Krouse told the council. She’s been working on the effort since 2021. 

“We’re at the point where we can’t move forward. We have to have a designated location,” Krouse said. “Once we know the location is secure, then I can apply.”

She told the Sun that the organization isn’t sure exactly how long the application process will take, but it’s hoping to be up and running by the first of next year. Using the Route One farmers markets in Vandenberg Village and Lompoc as a model, Krouse said the market is also aiming to eventually accept EBT and Market Match—but can’t apply to do that until it becomes certified. 

Guadalupe’s market is going to be organized and operate under the Guadalupe Business Association, a nonprofit that’s helping with the certification application. 

Association President Judy Wilson spoke at the July 8 City Council meeting. 

“I can absolutely see this as being something that in long-term would benefit the city” she said. “We are definitely thinking about things long-term. This is not something that we wanted it to start and then a few years down the line having it stop.” 

City Council members opted to approve a temporary fee waiver and reassess things after the market’s operated for a few months. 

“We all know we need a farmers market,” Councilmember Amelia Villegas said. 

She and others had questions about how the market planned to operate and asked if city staff could include those concerns in a future memorandum of understanding with the market. Mayor Ariston Julian said the market should have a plan to address health and safety emergencies and stay in contact with the city’s public safety staff. 

“Talk with the chief and have him look at your design, flow,” he said, adding that it would be good for the department to know the market exists, “and that they need to get down there that quick,” in case of an emergency call. 

Other concerns included use of public restrooms and other city resources, which City Administrator Todd Bodem said could all be assessed and addressed later, when the market gets closer to being a reality. 

This article appears in Jul 17-27, 2025.