Steve Murray of Murray Family Farms offers free samples of fruit to Tami Williams and her mother Patty Dudley at the Kaiser Permanente Farmers' Market.

Residents of southwest Bakersfield no longer have to travel across town to buy farm-fresh produce. Just three weeks ago, Kaiser Permanente began hosting a weekly farmers’ market in their parking lot at 8800 Ming Avenue.

The farmers’ market will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. each Thursday through October, then will return in the spring.

“This fits into our healthy eating, healthy living mission,” said Kristin Weirather, senior community benefit specialist for Kaiser Permanente and coordinator of the farmers’ market.

Figs and berries from Murray Family Farms for sale at the Kaiser Permanente Farmers' Market.

“We’ve had such an overwhelming response already. We get about 300 people out here. They say, ‘Thank you guys so much for doing this,’” she said.

With Murray Family Farms as the only produce vendor so far, the line can get a little long. But the unusually cool temperature and soft breeze at this past Thursday’s market made it almost seem like a coastal experience.

As part of National Farmers’ Market Week, Thursday’s market also featured live music and a cooking demonstration.

Tami Williams and her mother Patty Dudley bought baskets of fresh figs and berries, as well as sacks of Asian pears, apples and pluots (plum-apricot hybrids).

“I was just telling my mom, ‘I got all this fruit at the grocery store and it’s tasteless,’” Tami said. “So I said, ‘Let’s go here.’ Plus, it’s good to buy local.”

In addition to produce from Murray Family Farms, the market offers breads and muffins from the local franchise of Great Harvest Bread Company, nut and dried berry mixes from Nutland Foods out of McFarland, and vegetable-oil based soaps and shampoo bars by local soap maker Darla Edwards.

Weirather says she definitely wants to bring in more produce vendors. The caveat is the vendors have to carry their own insurance until the group can create a farmers’ market association to collectively run the event.

Steve Murray of Murray Family Farms says he’s glad to be the first vendor for Kaiser’s farmers’ market. In addition to his family’s farm east of Bakersfield and stands along Highway 99 and Interstate 5, farmers’ markets are where he sells much of his produce.

“We pick our fruit when it’s ripe and we pick directly into the boxes to sell to the public,” he said. “When fruit is ripe, it tastes better.”

Karen Churchwell bought peaches and a blackberry pie from Murray at the market. She is a Kaiser member and takes wellness classes at the clinic.

“What better place to have a farmers’ market than Kaiser’s parking lot, when they talk about ‘Thrive’ and maintaining your health,” she said.

More information:

Kaiser Farmers’ Market

4 to 7 p.m. Thursdays through October

8800 Ming Ave., at Haggin Oaks Boulevard

For more information or to become a vendor, contact Kristin Weirather at Kristin.n.weirather@kp.org.

More Farmers’ Markets:

kernfarmersmarkets.com

Tuesdays:

Oildale, 5 to 7 p.m., corner of Norris Road and Chester Avenue, through Sept. 15

Wednesdays:

Kern County Department of Public Health, Wednesdays, 3 to 6 p.m., 1800 Mt. Vernon Ave., through Sept. 2

Brimhall Square, 5:30 to 8 p.m., 9500 Brimhall Road, through Aug. 19 or longer depending on demand

Shafter, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., corner of James Street and Central Avenue, through Aug. 19

Saturdays

San Joaquin Valley College, Saturdays, 8 to 11 a.m., 201 New Stine Road

Golden State Mall, 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays, 3201 F Street, year-round