For our final review of the year, we visited the Willow Glen Farmers’ Market hosted at Willow Glen Elementary School. The venue was one of our favorites to date with the market sandwiched between the school’s playground and grassy field, giving children a variety of activities to choose from while their parents browsed the aisles. Many market-goers took advantage of the soft grass and indulged in a picnic-style brunch after purchasing fresh farmers’ market foods. The live music piqued the interest of curious pedestrians, who would enter the market with an inquiring mind and leave with a basket full of produce.
Triple Delight Blueberries (10/10)
Before trying individual stands, we took a moment to circle the market and explore all of its different vendors. A notable difference that separates the Willow Glen Market from others we’ve visited is the abundance of produce options. If we had to guess, over half of all the stalls consisted of family farms and fresh produce; there were likely 15 stands in total. Some of the farms boasting the largest selections of greenery included the Tierra Bonita Farm and Lunas Farm stands, both from San Benito County, as well as a Rojas Family Farms stand from Tulare in Fresno County.
Unfortunately, Mollie and I were not prepared to stack our refrigerators with produce, so we opted for a smaller scale vendor: Triple Delight Blueberries. Triple Delight Blueberries, is a family-owned business named after the co-founders’ three daughters: the “triple delights.” Started in 1977, the business has now expanded to sell its produce, grown in the San Joaquin Valley, at farmers’ markets in both Northern and Central California. In addition to its “small” and “large” blueberry bundles, the business also offered blueberry jam and a blueberry sauce.
Skye brought home a small bag of blueberries and a jar of blueberry jam from the stand. All in all, the berries were juicy and relatively uniform, while the jam paired perfectly with a piece of toast—not too acidic nor too sweet. These berries earn a 10/10!
Açaí Brasil (8/10)
As an açaí lover herself, Mollie was exuberant to find an açaí bowl stand at a local farmers’ market. This vendor only sold two sizes of their “Ban Berry” bowl at this location. Mollie purchased a 12-ounce bowl with two scoops of Brazilian açaí, honey drizzle, granola, blueberries, strawberries, and bananas. The booth staff prepared the meal in front of us—cutting up the fruits and blending the açaí behind the counter. For those who don’t know what açaí is, it’s a nutrient-loaded purple berry from the Amazon rainforest. Unlike most fruits, it’s low in sugar and high in healthy fats, rendering it a natural superfood. Once served, Mollie took her first bite—-which she described as delightfully fresh, cool, and perfect for a sunny April morning. She appreciated that this açaí bowl stuck to its authentic Amazonian flavors without the added Western sugars, as many Bay Area açaí eateries add non-traditional flavorings like peanut butter and Nutella in order to enhance the original açaí taste. While these sweet add-ins are tasty, this was the first time Mollie had experienced what a “real” açaí bowl should taste like. It’s clear that the Brazilian founders valued the authentic flavors and textures of the original açaí bowl and wished to share it with Bay Area locals.
Anna Olivia Sconery and Brit-ish Bakes (8/10)
Leaning into her British heritage, Skye tried three scones from the Brit-ish Bakes stand. We briefly spoke to the vendor on site, Jillian, who said she had been supporting the business at the Willow Glen Market for the past six months as an addition to her work-from-home job. “I enjoy it. It’s usually a lot of the neighborhood people that live around here so it’s usually the same customers every week,” Jillian said. She added that the owner, Anna Olivia, is a true Brit and had started the sconery roughly six years ago.
From the Brit-ish bakery, Skye tried a plain, blueberry, and cinnamon-maple scone served with clotted cream and a lemon sauce. Each scone was crumbly and paired perfectly with the light and airy clotted cream. Both the blueberry and cinnamon-maple flavors weren’t overpowering, instead serving as the right complement to the buttery dough. Skye’s only critique: the pungent lemon sauce, which deceptively appears to be a pot of honey, ended up in the trash. However, it was served on the side and doesn’t stop these scones from earning a 8/10.
Guacamole Queen (9/10)
After sampling Skye’s sweet scones, Mollie was in the mood for a savory snack. She came across Guacamole Queen, a stand selling guacamole, seasonal salsas, and tortilla chips. After sampling the various sauces, Mollie purchased their signature guacamole and decided to ask the vendor, Alma, some questions. Alma revealed that Guacamole Queen is her self-started business, which she founded in May of last year, and she’s been working with the Willow Glen Farmers’ Market for almost a year now. “I love [the market]. I think it’s a great experience and I enjoy seeing the community,” Alma said. “[The market] is very consistent and I like to see people’s reactions when they try our stuff. It’s really nice.” In addition to the Willow Glen Farmers’ Market, Guacamole Queen also frequents Palo Alto, Campbell, and Sunnyvale. Alma has had similar positive experiences in those other locations, sharing that she’s found a real community of small businesses who want to share their products with customers.
Her business had humble beginnings—all starting from when she would make her traditional Mexican recipes for her family. Eventually her kids told her, “You know, you should try making food at the farmers’ market.” This drove Alma to submit her application and bring her food to the market. Mollie appreciated hearing Alma’s story, and as she ate her homemade guacamole, she couldn’t help but think about the modest origins farmers’ market foods often have and how important it is that we support them.
Her guacamole recipe consists of four simple ingredients: avocado, onion, garlic, and cilantro. It was creamy, fresh, and savory with a slightly chunky yet smooth texture, leaving Mollie thoroughly impressed. Guacamole Queen gets a 9/10!
Cosmic Coffee Co (6/10)
Near the entrance of the market, there was a cute coffee stand perfectly situated for early morning visitors in need of a caffeine boost. Mollie followed suit with the other weary-eyed customers and ordered an iced mocha with oat milk. Mollie’s previous experiences with iced mochas have always been positive, as she typically loves the sweet, rich, and chocolatey drink with its complementary bitter espresso. Unfortunately, her Cosmic Coffee experience did not meet her expectations, and she felt that the drink was overwhelmingly bitter with an aftertaste that was purely espresso—not chocolate. Otherwise, the texture was smooth and the chocolate that she could taste was rich and bittersweet. Unfortunately, the Cosmic Coffee earns a 6/10.
Ultimately, the Willow Glen Farmers’ Market is a relaxing way to spend a Saturday morning–lounging on the grass and enjoying fresh produce. We’d encourage you to bring a blanket to make the most of the market’s picnic-like seating while keeping your bottom dry. Another pro tip: arrive early as parking at the venue is limited, though street parking is relatively easy to find. Don’t be deceived by Apple Maps telling you that the market is permanently closed, we promise it’s there! Happy eating!
