Farmer's Market Attracts Foodies From Far and Near

Sonoma County offers some of the best table fare in the country as well as some of the best summer weather and music. Combine them and you have Valley of the Moon Certified Farmer's Market on the Plaza around the famous historic Sonoma city hall.

It's not just a market, it's a huge gathering of people who use the time to connect, listen to live music, discuss politics, buy an impromptu dinner, bring their children on a walk or maybe chat on KSVY Radio. The city's public, non-profit and bilingual station broadcasts from the market on Tuesday nights.

For residents, it's a chance to talk to some of the town's leaders—Mayor Pro Tem Ken Brown sets up a table there each week—or tell the public about their non-profit organization.

"I view this as a service," Brown told Patch on Tuesday, as friends and colleagues dropped by to discuss local issues or just say hi.

For tourists, it's a time to absorb the local culture. Walking around the Plaza, you can run into visitors from Wisconsin or New Zealand and transplants from Florida, Colorado or San Francisco.

Among the popular new transplants are some members of a non-profit theater group, Transcendence, who are helping to raise money for Jack London State Historic Park by performing this summer inside the old winery ruins there. A variety of members performed informally Tuesday night at the market.

Half Deaf Jeff and Farshid Etnico also entertained with acoustic music. The pair will perform 7:30 to 10 p.m. Aug. 25 at in Sonoma.

Valley of the Moon Certified Farmer's Market operates from the first Tuesday in May until the last Tuesday in October.

Volunteers are needed.

To apply for a space in the Community Corner, where non-profits congregate, go to the website, www.vomcfm.com/index.html