Lake Tahoe Markets keeps the farm fresh food going year-round in Lake Tahoe

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - Each year, as summer beckons, farmer's markets start to appear around Lake Tahoe with their strawberries, peaches, peppers, and corn. The wait can seem endless, but there is a local cure for that other than the grocery store, and, it comes right to your door.

Lake Tahoe Markets is that cure.

Steve and Jill Rozier started Lake Tahoe Markets in 2011 when they did the in-person farmer's markets at Kahle Park. Steve said after growing up in Iowa he thought California had great produce and wanted to bring that to the area and did five markets in the Incline Village, Tahoe, and the Carson Valley area.

He and Jill took it a step further and started farming in the Carson Valley to create their produce to bring to customers. They started the market box approach in 2014 and developed a delivery system so that when winter comes, people won't see produce go away.

"There is no delivery to Tahoe and a void developed," said Steve of winter. "Tahoe becomes a produce desert."

Steve worked with Project Mana on the North Shore for a while. There he learned about food insecurity in the community, then saw that 'produce desert' and got the produce he had access to and got it to those who wanted or needed it.

Since the Roziers cannot grow all they need to create market boxes of produce for the public to purchase, they broker with farmers from Monterey to Yuba City to Fallon.

"These farmers commit themselves to the Tahoe Basin all summer," said Steve. "It's nice to know the people you get your food from."

Steve said those farmers enjoy the region and the locals.

Since it is tough for a year-round in-person farmer's market in Lake Tahoe, an online farmer's market is the way to go, said Steve, so they started Lake Tahoe Markets. Customers can go to their website where they can choose a 'build your own' bag that gives them a choice of what they are buying, as well as small, large, and budget bags.

Steve is on the road a lot, getting the produce from the farmers and delivering it to the consumer as soon as possible.

"We built the program on the Tahoe lifestyle and meet their needs," said Steve. "We live here, and we know there are vacations and times people want to suspend their market bags. You pay as you go, so no large money commitment."

Customers can choose all fruit bags, all veggies, or a combination of the two. Steve said they have some good winter crops now - mandarins, oranges, blood orange, and some "pretty awesome."

Steve said many refer to their bags as 'chef's bags' as they aren't overloaded, have usable portions, and contain recipe-specific items.

They do get unusual items, and have a page on their website called "What The Hell Is It?" to answer questions. Take, for example, kohlrabi - it's like a water chestnut and they offer a recipe.

Lake Tahoe Markets offers recipes for everything from artichokes to Yukon Gold potatoes. They also carry Tahoe Bagels, Christopher Ranch garlic, and meat - so not all produce.

Delivery Dates:
Tahoe Basin South Shore:
Glenbrook, Zephyr Cove, Stateline (Monday deliveries)
South Lake Tahoe, Meyers, Christmas Valley (Tuesday deliveries)

Tahoe Basin North Shore:
Incline Village and Crystal Bay ​(Monday deliveries)

Carson Valley:
Gardnerville/Minden ​(Wednesday deliveries)

Steve delivers to homes and offices, and even with the crazy winter last year, only six deliveries were missed.

To get in touch with the locally owned family business, visit https://www.laketahoemarkets.com or call Jill at (775) 790-7776, or see them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/LakeTahoeMarkets.