By Clyde Noel

Town Crier Correspondent

It’s the time of year when the smell of garlic braids and cut flowers permeates downtown Los Altos. Starting tomorrow, the Farmers’ Market will be open 4-8 p.m., Thursdays until Sept. 26, on State Street, between Second and Third streets.

Urban Village Farmers’ Market Association will operate the market for the second year. They will offer a mix of growers who sell products reflective of the changes during the fruit and vegetable season.

Ron Pardini, manager of the association, said many of last year’s vendors will be present, including specialty foods and baked goods dealers.

“We will have a variety of food vendors in addition to the usual vegetable farmers,” Pardini said. “Di Martini will also be back again. They will sell anything our farmers aren’t growing. That includes pineapples and other exotic fruits.”

The market is starting earlier in the year, at the request of merchants along State Street. This is in contrast to the previous concern about the extra competition to major supermarkets in downtown Los Altos.

Pardini expects to have a booth for a weekly barbecue, and the usual popcorn and crepe vendors.

La Gondola plans to have sidewalk tables in front of the restaurant to cater to early and late diners.

Pardini said he has established a liaison between the Urban Village Farmers’ Market Association and Los Altos Village Association (LAVA).

“LAVA gets the use permit from the city so we can operate the market. In turn, we give LAVA 10 percent of the gross sales,” Pardini said.

Los Altos City Manager Phil Rose said he knew of no changes in the permit, but LAVA pays the city a fee for street maintenance and cleaning the street after the market closes on Thursday nights.

The Los Altos Chamber of Commerce has been a strong advocate of having the Farmers’ Market on Thursday evenings.

At a previous Chamber Economic Development meeting, Councilman King Lear noted, “It will bring new customers to the downtown area. A farmers’ market in the evening could turn out to be a nice sociable and retail event.”

In addition to the varieties of fresh produce, last year’s event featured a few performers, who played while hawking their CDs.

For more information on the Los Altos Farmers’ Market, call (510) 745-7100.