Farmers market may be due for change

The city’s farmers market has enough money to operate through the end of next year, now that Glendale officials have authorized $20,000 to continue its operation, but a management change for the market may be on the horizon.

The market brings a collection of vendors who sell fresh fruit, vegetables and other produce to a stretch of Brand Boulevard from Wilson Avenue to Broadway each Thursday.

The decision was made on Tuesday in a 5-0 vote by City Council members in their role as the city’s Successor Agency, which handles the obligations of the city’s redevelopment agency.

Redevelopment was dissolved in a statewide act by legislators at the start of 2012.

Since 2000, the market has been managed for the city by Christopher Nyerges of the School of Self Reliance in Eagle Rock.

Nyerges’ contract expires at the end of 2014, but the market’s funding is approved on an annual basis.

While the additional money will allow the market to continue through the end of next year, the Downtown Glendale Assn. has contacted the city about taking over operation of the market, which means not all of those funds may be needed, said City Manager Scott Ochoa during a City Council meeting on Tuesday.

“This would get us through the end of the coming year, and at that point we would know from [the Downtown Glendale Assn.] if they are going to take over the market,” he said.

Association representatives did not respond to multiple requests for comment on Friday.

According to a city report on Nyerges’ contract, he is responsible for securing the parking spaces used for the market, certifying the participating vendors, assigning spaces, keeping the area clean and collecting fees at the end of each market day.
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