Getting Fresh Just Around The Corner

If it wasn’t already, it might be time to add the to your Sunday morning routine.

The City of Cupertino approved plans for a new farmer’s market to operate Sunday mornings at the Oaks Shopping Center on Steven’s Creek Boulevard, beside the entrance to Highway I-85 North.

The market—like it’s counterpart hosted at Vallco Mall—will be the venue for up to 60 vendors to sell fresh produce, food items and other goodies like hot-house flowers and jewelry. 

The idea for the new farmer’s market has been floating around for about a year and a half as a joint proposition between Raymond Jerome Lami, the market’s organizer, and the Oaks property owner, said Henry Lai, the property manager.

Now, the City is waiting to sign on off on Lami’s finalized game plan for details like participating vendors, operators, waste management and how the market will comply with existing regulations for other agencies like the fire department.

Tenants, the property owner, and the City of Cupertino are excited by the prospect of breathing new life into the Oaks Shopping Center.

“It will obviously attract local residents and residents from out of the area. Who doesn’t want fresh produce at a cheap rate? Hopefully it will drive up business for our tenants and that’s our main concern, our tenants,” Lai said.

Gary Chao, a city planner with the City of Cupertino, said it didn’t take much to get the City on board.

“They’re really trying to revitalize (the Oaks) and I don’t want blame them. We want them to succeed, we want them to revitalize,” Chao said.

The City approved Lami’s proposal unanimously on April 26. Now, once Lami’s proposal shows compliance with pending conditions, the market can come to life.  

“There was no appeal of the conditions so once those are approved of we can start the fun,” said Rick Kitson, City of Cupertino spokesman.