Searching for some scrumptious strawberries

Right now, it's all about the strawberries.

With the first Carson City Farmers Market of the season kicking off Wednesday, most of the patrons left with the sweet red fruit in their bags, much of it from Rodriguez Farms of Watsonville, Calif.

"We've been coming to the Farmers Market in Carson City since they started doing it," said Alejandro Rodriguez. "We do strawberries all summer, and later we will add blackberries and heirloom tomatoes, which are very popular."

In addition to the produce, the farm also offers homemade baked goods, including cinnamon rolls and fresh bread.

"The jalapeño cheese bread sticks are really popular, people like those," Rodriguez said.

It was the fresh fruit - and her mother-in-law - that got Kathy Roide to the market on Wednesday.

"My mother-in-law called me and told me to meet her here, and you don't argue with your mother-in-law. I came for the cherries and peaches, and I got cherries, peaches, bread and squash," Roide said.

Event organizer Shirley Adshade-Sponsler said that farmers markets are more than just an outdoor grocery store.

"It's a big social gathering," Adshade-Sponsler said. "I believe it's a positive thing for people to have a place to go and see their neighbors."

This is the 14th year a farmers market has been held in Carson City, with the majority of them taking place at the market's current location inside the Pony Express Pavilion at Mills Park.

The market also offers people an opportunity to learn more about their food.

"There aren't a lot of places where you can talk to the grower of your food," Adshade-Sponsler said. "The other thing is you can ask, you can ask about the product and ask how to cook it and serve it."

The markets also provide a chance for farmers to try out new types of produce and gives new businesses a chance to showcase their products.

The market was the second for Teresa and Steve Schneider, who purchased a roasted nut business in January. They premiered their new business at the RSVP Mother's Day Carnival in May.

"People are scared to try a new kind. I try and push them to try something new like the Cajun or the garlic cashews," said Teresa. "The samples are what sells them."

Adshade-Sponsler said the market has supported about 40 vendors in previous years and expects it to pick up when tomatoes, one of the most sought after products, hits peak season in July.

"We should have up to 30 varieties of tomatoes for sale in the market," Adshade-Sponsler said.

• Contact reporter Jarid Shipley at jshipley@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.

If you go

Some of the farmers markets throughout Northern Nevada

Gardnerville: 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesdays at Lampe Park, Highway 395 and Waterloo Lane

Fallon: 4-7 p.m. Aug. 3- Sept. 28 on Maine Street

Stateline: 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Fridays at Kahle Park

Incline Village: 2:30-7:30 p.m. Fridays in the Ponderosa Ranch Parking Lot.

Dayton: 4:30-7 p.m. Tuesdays beginning June 19 at Community Roots Garden, Highway 50 East and Second Avenue.

Reno: Riverside Farmers Market, 4-9 p.m. Fridays on Arlington Street between First and Court streets.

Plumb Lane Market, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesdays

Tamarack Junction Market, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Fridays

Reno Village Market, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays

Sparks: 4-9 p.m. Thursdays in Victorian Square

Disc Drive West Market, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays