Hesperia Civic Plaza Park hosts a weekly farmers market at 10 a.m. every Saturday. Members of the community buy and sell hand-made goods, food, and collectible merchandise.
Local vendors use events like this to help pay their bills. A Husband and Wife —James and Alyssa— became vendors in 2023 to bring home extra money to their family. James started selling hand-crafted wooden American flags during the pandemic.
James said during covid “..other than unemployment —which was crap— [hand-crafting] was my only other source of income.“ Since then, he and his wife have taken their business to this farmers’ market to receive more orders and sell more of their art. This farmer’s market supports the vendors by allowing to make money on the side which is becoming increasingly prevalent as the cost of living increases.
Alyssa stated that for most vendors “..this most likely is not their full-time job, it’s probably something on the side; just to survive in California.” The Hesperia Community Farmers Market is responsible for bringing people together despite the economic climate. Vendors and customers do not just find good deals, they also find life long friends. James and Alyssa further expanded on the close-knit community among vendors and staff at the market when talking about their friendship with Mandy, the DJ at the market saying “We’re good friends with Mandy…[we] invite him over to [our] house for Thanksgiving.”
When asked why supporting these events are important, a vendor by the name of Tina Turner replied “..to see what people have made and getting the experience of seeing new crafts.” Turner has been a vendor for a year and a half and sells sports themed crafts that she makes by hand. She is inspired by the other vendors, and each week they are able to compete with one another. This competition helps them grow creatively and financially.
Those who attend can also purchase food from the local food trucks. Many customers prefer to come here for a meal instead of a large-scale fast-food restaurant. One thing the vendors and customers have in common is their preference for locally made products. They want to know where their money is going, whether it is food or merchandise. To them, monetarily helping another member of the community is worth more than an expedient, poorly made product. James stated, “…you’re probably going to pay a couple of bucks more, but you’re getting better quality.”
The Hesperia Community Farmers Market is a weekly service providing its vendors and customers with a unique experience. Customers can add meaning to consumerism through their interactions with members of their community. Vendors can use this event to put food on their tables and meet lifelong friends. Vendors can share their culture and hobbies with one another and help each other improve their financial well-being. Customers who attend this event weekly will surely be satisfied with the sense of community, support, and family that this event brings.
