The Abridged version:
- The Historic Folsom Farmers Market has crosstown competition from a new Saturday farmers market on the other side of town.
- The longtime operator of the market in the historic district began running the new venture after historic association directors opted to bring on someone new.
- Vendors were faced with staying put, joining the new market or trying to have a presence at both.
On a June Saturday in Folsom’s historic district, the plaza buzzed with farmers market shoppers, many of whom had no idea that, practically overnight, the market had been taken over by a new operator for the first time in more than a decade.
Four miles away, on the other side of town, the founders of the historic district’s previous market operator, Living Smart Farmers Markets, were opening a new Saturday market called Folsom Community Farmers Market, with dozens of vendor booths up and running for a small but enthusiastic group of shoppers.
The Historic Folsom Farmers Market, which has operated for 15 years and is now run by Sierra Oak Farms of Fiddletown, led by a farmer and relative newcomer to market management, is nestled in the heart of the historic district on Sutter Street, surrounded by local businesses and flanked by the American River.
In contrast, the Folsom Community Farmers Market was launched at the back of the Palladio Shopping Center parking lot, facing Nordstrom Rack, and was surrounded by newer homes in a master-planned community. Its operator, with many years of experience in historic Folsom, Elk Grove and Citrus Heights, also runs a Wednesday market at the Palladio.
In other words, while a new operator continued Folsom’s long-running farmers market, its previous operator had launched a competing venture in the new part of town. Although the historic district switch and the new market launch at the Palladio appeared seamless, they were not.
Questions swirled around Living Smart’s nonprofit status. Some historic district vendors grumbled about feeling misled by Living Smart operators about potential market closures and the market’s future. Some said that Living Smart tried to poach vendors for its new market, while other vendors said the new operator of the historic district market urged them to stay there with Sierra Oak Farms.
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Some of the vendors, like Benny Sanchez of Rodriquez Bros. Ranch, a large berry producer in Watsonville, stayed in Historic Folsom and also sent a seller and truckload of berries to the Palladio site.
“I didn’t see anything bad from this,” he said. “I see it as a new opportunity for new business. I am optimistic.”
Crosstown markets
The farmers market drama stemmed from a decision by Folsom city leaders to ask the Folsom Historic District Association to assume responsibility for Folsom Plaza rentals. The association had overseen the farmers market since its inception 15 years ago, but the city required only that the operator have a permit and pay to clean the plaza once a month.
With the rental management change, the association’s board of directors decided to charge the operator to cover maintenance expenses. Rather than retain Living Smart outright, they sent a request for proposal to Living Smart and other potential operators. The request asked applicants to provide an outline of monthly plaza-use compensation, as the terms would be among the selection criteria for the operator.
In reviewing the applications, Folsom Historic District Executive Director Judy Collinsworth said the board learned that Living Smart’s nonprofit status was in question, adding that Sierra Oak Farms most aligned with the board’s vision for the market and that its producer-owner, Corbett Schnatmeyer, “clearly has the right focus and the heart for what we are looking for.”
Certified Farmers Markets must be operated by a certified producer, local government agency or nonprofit. According to Secretary of State records, the state Franchise Tax Board suspended Living Smart Farmers Markets’ status as a nonprofit corporation on Oct. 1, 2024, and it remains listed as suspended. According to the tax board, a suspended nonprofit cannot legally do business.
On June 15, 2026, two days after Living Smart opened the Saturday market at Palladio, Living Smart’s operators filed papers with the Secretary of State incorporating a new nonprofit corporation under a slightly different name, Living Smart Farmers Market.
“There was an administrative error that we are in the process of correcting. To ensure uninterrupted operations and continued compliance with state licensing and permit requirements, we re-established our nonprofit organization,” Marie Hall, Living Smart operator, wrote in a July 31 statement to Abridged about the status of the two Living Smart nonprofits. “The Folsom Community Farmers Market remains fully permitted, licensed, and in good standing as a certified farmers market.”
Over several years, the nonprofit also received more than 20 notices of noncompliance, classified as “serious” violations, with California Department of Food and Agriculture regulations related to vendor fees and administrative requirements at multiple market sites, according to the agency’s online database. Sacramento County Chief Deputy Agricultural Commissioner Kevin Martyn said those violations have been resolved and the agricultural department has not found any new issues with Living Smart.
“Living Smart Farmers Market remains deeply committed to supporting the communities we serve and the farmers and vendors who make our markets possible,” the owners Marie and Don Hall wrote to Abridged in a June statement. “We are excited about the future and the continued growth of the Folsom Community Farmers Market, and we remain focused on creating meaningful community connections through our markets and events.”
Confusion and anger
Collinsworth informed the Halls of the decision at the end of May and told the owners they could stay on through June before Schnatmeyer would take the reins. In a letter to vendors, Collinsworth said the market was changing hands on July 1, and that booth fees would not change.
Several vendors told Abridged they were approached by a Living Smart representative, who asked whether they would follow them to the new Palladio location, and provided information that many felt was inaccurate. Living Smart also distributed colorful fliers to customers announcing the new market’s mid-June opening at the Palladio.
Around the same time, the new operator, Sierra Oak Farms, distributed a flier announcing its Saturday market, and offered vendors agreements to complete if they planned to remain in Historic Folsom under the new leadership.
Some vendors claimed that Living Smart representatives had said the historic district market would not operate on the last two Saturdays of June, adding that construction later in the year would cause major disruption or even the closure of parts of the market. The information angered vendors and sowed confusion among vendors and customers.
“Part of the confusion is that for the last two weeks (before the transition), the previous operators were telling everyone that the market would be closed for two weeks and they had to go to Palladio,” said Allan D’Annea, the former market manager in Historic Folsom who quit his job with Living Smart to work with the new operator.
The Historic District Association’s Collinsworth confirmed that the farmers market footprint will change during nearby construction, affecting vendor capacity and other operational aspects, noting that the construction disruptions were disclosed to prospective operators. She added that Living Smart opted not to stay the additional two Saturdays of June and that Sierra Oak Farms was able to fill the gap by starting two weeks ahead of schedule.
Nancy Mua, who runs Thao Ranch in Merced, said she was approached by Living Smart about relocating to the Palladio, but declined.
“This is the strongest market,” she said, as she packed up a bag of onions and greens for a customer. “My customers are my family. I feel a lot of love here.”
Both markets off to solid starts
Sierra Oak Farms owner Schnatmeyer said he has added five new farmers, retained all the prior growers, and now has 84 vendors — nearly to capacity.
“We are very good and moving forward,” he said. “This is an amazing opportunity. There is a lot of joy in the market,” adding that he wished the previous operators well.
“There is room for two (Saturday farmers markets),” Schnatmeyer said. “If the community can support it, why not?”
Living Smart’s Hall, in an email, said she envisions her new market as a vibrant community gathering space at the Palladio.
“Our goal is to create a destination that reflects the spirit of the community while preserving the traditions and values that make farmers markets so special,” she said.
On a Saturday in June, longtime Folsom resident Diane Christie was pleased with what she found at the Historic District market.
“So far, my favorite vendors are still here,” said Christie, who makes the market a habit on Saturdays after yoga. “I actually live closer to the Palladio site,” she added. “But I love the atmosphere here. I will drive the extra miles.”
Vendors who opted to move their entire operation to the Palladio said they were happy with the spacious booth area, room for growth and easier parking.
“There is more space, I can park behind my booth,” said Jennifer White of White’s Honey Bees, a business she said is loyal to Living Smart Farmers Market. “My honey is very heavy. It’s nice not to have to haul it here.”
And White is not worried about losing customers she’d attracted in Historic Folsom.
“If people love honey, they will find us,” she said.
Palladio customer Chelsa Ma of El Dorado Hills, who was shopping with her mother, daughter and husband, was pleased with the new market, as well.
“It’s convenient,” she said. “It feels good. I love the kids’ play area. I dropped my daughter there with her dad so we can shop.”
Collinsworth, in a late-July email, said the Historic District market operator is doing very well.
“The market here is as strong as ever, and we understand that the new market is also doing very well,” she wrote. “With 90,000 people in Folsom now, two farmers markets at the same time on Saturday just 4 miles apart seems to be working ok. It’s not ideal for the farmers, but there are enough people to support both markets.”
