Shoppers browsing the Grand Lake Farmers Market. Photo: Nina Riggio
Every Saturday morning, trucks loaded with fresh organic fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, nuts, and more, converge at Oakland’s Grand Lake Farmers Market. The farms that produce this bounty are located across California, and for years, a big proportion of their harvest, more than half for some farmers, was sold to restaurants. The rest was purchased by individuals shopping for their household. Restaurant closures have hit these small farmers hard. After some restaurants reopened in October, farmers thought they could breathe a sigh of relief, but a new shutdown order this month means that restaurants can only operate for takeout and delivery.