FRESNO, California ‒ The farmers’ markets, especially on Wednesdays, serve as this city’s town square. Parking lots fill up quickly, whether it’s mornings on Kern Street downtown or at a vineyard less than 10 miles away that closes at dusk.
The growers come from all walks of life, as do the customers, all seeking fresh farm-to-table items from fruits and vegetables to jams and bargain-priced, grass-fed beef.
Three hours from both San Francisco and Los Angeles, Fresno is more reminiscent of Middle America than the globally renowned big cities that anchor the country’s most populous state.
Farming is its main source of revenue and Fresno County is consistently one of the largest agricultural producers in the world.
But neither Fresno County nor the city of the same name within it get much attention from people running for U.S. president.
“I haven’t seen enough from either candidate. It’s almost like they can’t see us, they don’t care about us,” said Andre Smith, 60, who was selling produce at the downtown market on a recent day.