Sonoma county to break ground on Mitote Food Park

Sonoma County will be celebrating the creation of the Mitote Food Park with a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, Sept. 23 at 4 p.m. The event will feature music and an assortment of cuisines from local vendors. The ceremony will start with officials breaking ground and will continue until 6 p.m. 

The food park’s name “Mitote” comes from ancient Nahuatl language meaning a party or gathering. “We want to celebrate this incredible milestone of this unique food park,” said Sonoma County Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, Chair of the Board of Supervisors. “This is a chance to appreciate the importance of community, culture and heritage through food, music and art.” 

As part of the ceremony, the community is invited to try local food from food trucks including El Charro Nergo, Lucha Sabina, La Victoria, Maria Machetes and Gio Ey Los Magos. Each truck will feature a dish that offers a taste of regional cuisines from across Mexico including Oaxaca, Jalisco, Michoacan and Mexico City. 

Mitote Food Park will be developed on a portion of a 7.5-acre county-owned parcel that is being targeted for the Roseland Village master development. The food park, located at 665 Sebastopol Road in Santa Rosa, will cost approximately $750,000 as improvements are made to the property. Public restrooms, shaded areas, picnic tables, and a children’s play area will all be available to guests of the park. In addition to the food, a bar will serve both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages to park guests. 

The interim food park will remain open while the construction of the Roseland Village project, Tierra de Rosas takes place. Development of the area will include both affordable and market-rate housing, a community center, a library, a food market and a one-acre park. The interim park will provide a communal area for food, drinks, and farmers’ markets until the Roseland Village development concludes and is ready for use. 

The groundbreaking event will include music from an on-site D.J. who will raffle off prizes throughout the day. The event is open to the public, and no prior registration is needed. Construction of the food park will begin later in the week and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2021. 

More information about the food park is available at mitotefoodpark.com.