Napa Farmers Market Relocating To Napa Valley Expo

NAPA, CA — The Napa Farmers Market is set to return to downtown Napa following a unanimous vote Tuesday by Napa Valley Exposition's Board of Directors. Under a contract approved Tuesday, the Expo will host Napa Farmers Market weekly on Saturdays beginning Feb. 8.

"Napa Farmers Market and Napa Valley Exposition are natural partners," said Napa Valley Expo Board President John F. Dunbar. "Like the market, the Napa Valley Exposition is a vital part of our diverse community, showcasing our agricultural heritage and providing a high-quality venue for recreational and educational opportunities for residents and visitors of all ages. We are delighted to provide them with a long-term venue."

The 33-acre Napa Valley Expo property at 575 Third St. in Napa is managed by the 25th District Agricultural Association of the State of California. Napa Valley Expo is a community center and gathering place for the Napa Valley. The Expo has more than 250,000 visitors each year for the annual Napa Town & Country Fair, BottleRock Napa Valley and various trade shows, dinners, shows, dances, fundraisers, concerts, weddings and receptions.

Napa Farmers Market, a nonprofit founded in 1986, is currently operating at the South Napa Century Center, 195 Gasser Drive. The market is open from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday year-round, rain or shine, and Tuesdays from April through September.

The market is said to offer the largest selection of fresh, nutritious, locally grown and produced food sold directly by small farmers located within an 80-mile radius of Napa. It is also the only place in Napa that doubles the value of CalFresh benefits for all eligible food products through its Market Match program.

"Due to great community support over the years, Napa Farmers Market has continued to expand into the valley's biggest and best farmers market," said David Layland, president of the board for Napa Farmers Market. "Thanks to Napa Valley Expo, we will be able to continue providing unrivaled access to locally grown and produced food to the residents and chefs of Napa and beyond."

Beginning Feb. 8, the Napa Farmers Market will set up shop in the Expo's former Grandstand area adjacent to Zinfandel Hall. Access to the grounds and parking for market shoppers will be available from the Expo gate at 601 Silverado Trail, the same gate used to access the Expo's RV Park.

"The Expo is centrally located, has plenty of parking, and will easily accommodate our rotating roster of more than 160 local farmers and incubator businesses," Layland said. "We are grateful to the Napa Valley Exposition board for its support."

There is one hiccup, however. As part of the agreement approved Tuesday, the farmers market will need to relocate from the Expo grounds for the month of May because of the Expo's contractual obligations for hosting BottleRock Napa Valley, a three-day music festival held annually over Memorial Day weekend.

Layland said the farmers market and the city of Napa's Parks and Rec Department are working together on finding a temporary location for the market for the month of May in order to avoid the scheduling conflict.

"... We are confident we will have a solution by early next year," he said.