New farmers market debuts this week at midtown Sacramento’s Winn Park

A new year-round farmers market will debut Wednesday at Winn Park in midtown Sacramento, offering produce, grocery items, flowers, art and free fitness classes. The market, called “Wednesdays at Winn,” will be open every Wednesday from 3 to 7:30 p.m. In November, the hours will shift to 3 to 7 p.m.

More than 30 open-air booths will peddle locally produced goods at the park, at 1616 28th St., according to a press release from the Midtown Association, which will own and manage the market. Starting in September, “Wednesdays at Winn” will accept Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT), allowing CalFresh recipients to buy produce.

“Because farmers markets offer an open-air shopping experience, the vendors are spread out and the produce is very fresh and handled by fewer people, it is a great source of food access for people in our community,” said Emily Baime Michaels, executive director of the Midtown Association.

Melissa Parks, who grows flowers and vegetables on 10 acres in Sacramento County, is one of the vendors who will bring an assortment of produce to the market.

“We specialize in funky heirloom varieties that you can’t get at the grocery store, that are completely seasonal, completely original,” Parks said.

She grows edible flowers, squash blossoms and five varieties of eggplant, among other things. Her family-run operation, Ladyhawke Farm, supplies local restaurants and farmers markets.

The market -- using sanitized and spread-out picnic areas -- is designed to be a safe outdoor gathering space during the pandemic, Michaels said.

The farmers’ market will require masks and at least six feet of space between vendors, who will make gloves and hand sanitizer available.

Free fitness and wellness classes including yoga and meditation will be offered from May to October. Exercisers will have to stand at a distance from each other and class sizes will be limited, so people must register online using a link that will open in advance on the market’s website.

Michaels said the wellness class offerings add to the market’s goal of creating a healthy community overall.

Parking is available in garages at 1801 L St. or at the East End Garage on 17th Street between L & Capitol.

More information about Wednesdays at Winn is available on the event’s Instagram page, and on Midtown Sacramento’s website and social media accounts.