The Joshua Tree Certified Farmers' Market sits near two of the high desert's busiest roadways.
Located on Highway 62 near Park Boulevard, at the western gateway to Joshua Tree National Park, the farmers market is a sprawling bazaar filled with vendors selling everything from produce and herbs to hand-crafted soap and psychedelic art.
Though it's a boon for vendors, the market's current size has concerned San Bernardino County code enforcement officials, who received a complaint and informed owner Lori Herbel that the market has failed to operate within the conditions of her permit.
With roughly 35 vendors every weekend, the market is nearly three times larger than what is permitted.
Initially, Herbel planned to reduce the market's size in order to comply. But after a 7,000-signature petition in support of the market spread on social media and the county granted her a 30-day extension, Herbel has kept the market alive without any reductions.
She's now working with the county to revise her permit.
"I'm very hopeful," she said.
Permit challenges
The farmers market's permit was approved for up to 12 vendors. The permit stated Herbel would provide a minimum of 20 unpaved parking spaces and 21 additional paved ones at a nearby lot.*
Any proposed changes to the site, such as an increase in occupants, required county approval.
Herbel said she always had the property owner's approval to hold the market at its existing location. She's also maintained the market's asphalt surface.
When news spread regarding the permit issues, Joshua Tree Coffee Company owner Royce Robertson started an online petition asking the county to allow the market to remain at its current size.
"The farmers market provides essentials to our community and supports countless families that depend on it for their livelihoods," Robertson wrote.
On Oct. 10, Herbel received a letter from code enforcement granting her a "stay of enforcement efforts for 30 days," meaning the market could keep operating at its current size.
San Bernardino County spokesman David Wert said the county's role is to help people comply with the codes.
"The county’s goal isn’t to shut people down or look for ways that they’re not being compliant," he said. "It’s to assist them in complying with the codes.
"We do tend to give people opportunities to comply rather than, ‘We're going to shut you down until you comply,'" he added.
Keeping the market alive
A former vendor who sold produce and flowers at farmers markets across Southern California, Herbel founded the farmers market and has seen it grow over time.
When Herbel initially got the letter, she planned to cut the market to 12 vendors in order to comply with her existing permit.
"Everybody was in tears," she said. "It was horrible."
The petition came as a surprise.
"It just happened," Herbel said.
"I was just doing a job and trying to make the best market I could and I didn't know that it was so valuable to the community," she said.
On Saturday morning, Herbel walked back-and-forth at the market and chatted with vendors and customers.
She ran into Stacey Blackwell, a Yucca Valley resident, who said she has visited the market for years and made friends there.
"I'm crushed that we would ever think of not having it," Blackwell said. "It would be unimaginable."
About 50 feet away, Larry Cooper, a woodworker from Apple Valley, stood near his booth and looked out at the market.
He's been selling in Joshua Tree for about a year.
"I feel lucky to be a part of this," he said.
When Herbel received the county letter, she informed Cooper that he wouldn't be able to stay after she planned to shrink the market.
Thankfully, he never had to leave after Herbel decided to keep all the vendors.
"I'm just delighted," Cooper said. "This is a home for us. We come to see our friends and make a little money."
"That's about as good as it gets."
*Clarification: The story has been updated to reflect the number of parking spaces the permit stated Herbel would provide at the farmers market.
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Shane Newell covers breaking news and the western Coachella Valley cities of Palm Springs, Cathedral City and Desert Hot Springs. He can be reached at Shane.Newell@DesertSun.com, (760) 778-4649 or on Twitter at @journoshane.
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2019-10-19 23:18:00Z
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