A day at the Los Gatos Farmers’ Market

From colorful bouquets to ripe stone fruits to fresh-baked bread, the Los Gatos Farmers’ Market has been showcasing some stunningly delicious offerings this summer. This weekly gathering—which takes place each Sunday, from 9am-1pm—isn’t just a place to find quality produce. It’s also where bonds between producer and consumer are strengthened. 

In recent years, the “farm-to-table” movement has gained serious traction, particularly in Silicon Valley towns like Los Gatos, where a growing number of consumers are prioritizing locally-grown and organic food. With our Town’s increased emphasis on sustainability, wellness and promoting the local economy, the appeal of shopping at local farmers’ markets has also grown. Studies speak of the benefits of consuming fresh and minimally-processed food. The shoppers milling about the booths on Montebello Way seem to have gotten the message.

More than just good business, farm-to-table practices are good for the environment. When goods don’t have to travel as far, that means a smaller carbon footprint. And, by shopping straight from the source, customers are treated to greater transparency—and a deeper connection with the farmers who produce the food they consume.

Buying groceries straight from the person who grew, made or baked an item carries a social significance beyond mere transactions. Customers can ask questions about farming practices, the origins of various foods—and even for recipe suggestions. The face-to-face approach to commerce turns the weekly ritual into a more meaningful shopping experience.

“We need a friendship beside the dollar,” said Qr Bih of Ken’s Top Notch, one of the longest-running stalls at the market. To him and others involved in the business, fostering a relationship with customers is paramount.

Bih toured me through the neat rows of produce on display, asking my flavor preferences—sweet or sour, bright or tame. He offered a curated array of grape, peach and pluot samples. And he even suggested an order to try them in, which, I was told, would capitalize on the merits of each fruit’s flavor. I left delighted, with two pounds of white peaches in my bag.

My experience was no outlier. The workers of Ken’s Top Notch treat each customer with the same personal attention. By 9:30am, they had a line down the block of people eager to sample—and purchase—fruit by the pound. 

“About 60 percent are regular customers,” Bih told me. Some customers are even repeat visitors from out of state and country, he added.

With niche flavor combinations like lychee pearl grapes and mango nectarines, it’s clear why Ken’s Top Notch draws a loyal following. The availability of unique produce, which you often can’t find in traditional grocery stores, is just another benefit of the farmers’ market.

Across the row of white pop-up tents is another market stall dedicated to providing specialized goods. That’s where you’ll find Forest & Flour, a health-conscious bakery dedicated to creating wholesome, allergen-free alternatives to conventional baked goods. Founded with a mission to maintain high standards while employing sustainable practices, Forest & Flour crafts everything with organic, gluten-free, dairy-free and refined-sugar-free ingredients. Their menu of breads, cakes, muffins, cookies and more caters to a wide range of dietary needs.

“It’s an allergen-friendly bakery. Everybody has a unique story and why they’re coming to our stall,” said Thao Le, Forest & Flour Bakery’s “Farmers’ Market Happiness Guru.”

While grocery stores and supermarkets stock some options for customers with allergies or sensitivities, such items often don’t measure up to their standard counterparts. Forest & Flour hopes to bridge the gap by providing baked goods that are both wholesome and delicious.

The business was initially envisioned by its founder, “Head of Table” Sway Sutori, who started crafting original recipes in her home kitchen in San Jose. Since officially launching in 2018, the operation has grown; now, the bakery boasts a brick-and-mortar shop in Fremont, Calif., which is open five days a week, and participates in five farmers’ markets in the area.

According to Le, there’s a huge appeal to selling at farmers’ markets, compared to large grocery stores.

“It’s a more interrelational experience,” Le said. “It’s completely different, not as commercialized. Just the engagement itself increases the quality in my opinion.”

As a company founded on nourishing customers’ minds, bodies and souls, celebrating joyful interactions with customers is just part of their approach.

It also helps that shopping directly ensures small businesses can maximize revenue. Bih explained that supermarkets set the prices of their produce too low, resulting in lower profits. For Ken’s Top Notch, Forest & Flour and other participating businesses, farmers’ markets are an ideal way to keep quality standards high without sacrificing earnings. 

From furthering sustainability, to supporting local businesses, to connecting with farmers—all while discovering unique products along the way—stopping by the Los Gatos Farmers’ Market can be quite the journey.