Shoppers grazed for organic produce, Indian food, crepes, fresh pastries, coffee and more during the opening day of the farmers market in Tahoe City Thursday.

“I was just walking and thinking this is awesome,” said Hillary Paul of Tahoe City, who bought apricots, cherries, garlic mint cheese and daisies. “This radiates community and togetherness.”

Despite the heavy rains this winter, vendors showed up with a variety of produce, including peaches, strawberries, artichokes, broccoli and kale,

---

---

“We had a late winter,” said Roberto Rodriguez of Rodriguez Ranch in Watsonville. “Rain is hard on strawberries and artichokes. We lost a lot of strawberries. Fortunately, we had veggies. Veggies don’t get damaged by the rain.”

Still, despite the slow start to the season and the sparse crowd on Thursday, vendors were excited to be back.

---

---

“I’m just glad to be back at this beautiful location,” Bryan Kaminsky, a farmer and site manager of the Tahoe City farmers market, said of the Commons Beach location. “It’s a pleasure to see familiar faces.”

Fred Relyea, owner of Pine Mountain, a coffee company out of Auburn, had his debut at the Tahoe City market. He currently sells his product at the markets in Auburn, Roseville and Lake of the Pines.

“I pulled in and thought, ‘What a great setting,'” Relyea said. “It’s a super location.”

The Tahoe City farmers market is every Thursday through October, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Kings Beach and Truckee markets will begin June 6. The Homewood market is scheduled to start July 1.