Facebook Getting Into the Farmers' Market Game With Year-Round Menlo Park Market

Facebook is continuing its world domination. In a move that seems somewhat confusing to outsiders, the social media giant is starting a year-round farmer’s market in one of its headquarter parking lots. The company insists the market actually very #onbrand for the company — apparently Facebook has an entire facilities department dedicated to events like these, with an outreach group, sustainability team and events team. “We’re a social company, so we thought it’d be nice to take this to a local level and socialize with our neighbors,” Facebook global facilities, events and amenities manager Alexandria Gahagan told Eater. “We don’t want people to just come, get food and leave, but to get to know your neighbors and form some relationships. We’re looking to help people actually in person and have a better connection to the community.”

Out of that desire the “Facebook Certified Farmers’ Market” in Menlo Park was born, which starts Sunday, October 4 from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. and continues every Sunday in perpetuity. Vendors and produce include fruit from Cipponeri Family Farms, Media Berry Farms and Rodriguez Farms, vegetables from J&M Ibarra and Mountain Fresh, hummus from Hummus Heaven. There will also be Jewelry by Geri and glass blower David Patrick, in addition to a kid’s zone, food trucks, cooking demos and bike tune-ups.

Gahagan said Facebook is not profiting off the market at all. “What we do do is provide security, a venue, the staff that runs it and we’ll be sponsoring some of the items like the kid’s zone and bike repairs,” she said. The market is run in conjunction with the West Coast Farmers Market Association and the Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce.