MONTEREY PARK, FEB. 13, 2012 -- The city will try for a third time to establish a Farmers Market, when the proposal goes before the City Council at Wednesday night's (2/15/12) Council meeting.

Twice before in the past, the city has tried to set up a Farmer's Market to offer local residents and shoppers fresh-from-the-farm fruits and vegetibles. One time a market was set up at Garvey Ranch Park. The next time another open air market operated at a city parking lot in the downtown area. Both times, the Farmer's Markets shut down after a short periiod of operation.

The new proposal would place a weekly Farmers Market on El Portal Place located between El Mercado Street and busy South Atlantic Boulevard. It will be strategicly located near the city's Cascade icon and next to a busy street with high visibility.

According to the proposal the market will be scheduled every Thursday, rain or shine, starting at 7 p.m. and closing at 7 p.m. and possibly earlier in the fall and winter season.

El Portal Street will would begin at about noon to permit set up of booths. The street would be reopened  by 9 p.m. . According to a city press release the market would probably begin operation in May or June, if approved by the City Council.

The staff proposes that the council approve a contract with a company called "Sprouts of Promise" and allocate $21,000 from the community trust fundfor event marketing, permits, contract staffing and equipment.