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The Tracy Farmers Market will open for the 2007 season from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 12 in downtown Tracy.

The 2007 season marks a change for the Tracy Farmers Market, from a Wednesday evening market to a Saturday morning market. The market will also have a new operator. The Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association, a nonprofit organization headquartered in Concord that operates more than 40 markets weekly in Northern California, has partnered with the Downtown Tracy Business Improvement Area to bring the Saturday morning market to Tracy.

The market, on 10th Street between Central Avenue and B Street, will feature fresh seasonal California-grown fruits and vegetables. Look for cherries, asparagus, red delicious strawberries, squash, mixed greens and more on opening days. Coming soon as summer approaches are peppers, apricots, peaches, grapes, tomatoes and nectarines. The market will also feature artisan breads and pastries.

Market Manager Thomas Dorn grew up in Tracy and said he’s excited to be returning to his roots.

“I remember when the town was under 30,000 residents, and ag land was still on the corner of Grant Line Road and Tracy Boulevard,” he said. “The city has grown a lot over the past few years, but I know the friendly spirit that made this such a great place to grow up hasn’t changed.”

Dorn has been working with PCFMA since 2001 and also manages PCFMA’s markets in Livermore and Oakland’s Jack London Square. The Tracy market will run from May 12 through Nov. 17.

The Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association is the state’s largest operator of Certified Farmers’ Markets, with over forty Certified Farmers’ Markets weekly in the Bay Area during the peak summer months. Certified Farmers’ Markets are locations that offer only California-grown products sold directly to consumers by the farmers that grew, nurtured and harvested the crops. All PCFMA markets accept Woman Infant and Children Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program coupons and EBT (food stamp cards).

For information: 800-949-FARM or www.pcfma.com.