Why you should support your local Farmers’ Markets:1) Many of the farms use sustainable agricultural practices.
2) Money goes back in to your community.
3) The food is organic, thus pesticide free.
4) The produce is super fresh.
5) Less packaging is involved.
6) The distance the food travels is exponentially less than the distance food travels to super markets:
According to an article titled, "Eat Locally and Ease Climate Change" written by Lloyd Alter, on Planet Green: “A full tractor-trailer hauls about 32,000 pounds of produce. On average...this food travels about 1,750 miles from farm to market, in trucks that get about 5.5 miles per gallon. That's 320 gallons of fuel to transport 32,000 pounds, or about a gallon of fuel for every 100 pounds of food."
Side note: Do not be alarmed if you come across a stand or two (or even more) that do not have a “Certified Organic” sign hanging in their tent. It can be expensive getting certified so some farmers opt not to, but still practice organic and sustainable farming. You should, however, inquire if they use pesticides and such in their farming, just as a precaution.
Check out the guide (below) to find Farmers’ Markets around the L.A area:*
Mondays:
West Hollywood Monday Farmers’ Market
9am-2pm
Plummer Park - N. Vista and Fountain Ave
323-845-6535
Tuesdays:
Woodman Avenue Market
3pm-8:30pm
14006 Riverside Drive Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
(866) 966-9495
Made an impromptu stop here on my way home one day. Great selection of fresh/ripe veggies. Not as many fruit vendors as I would like, but there are lots of craft boutiques.
Culver City Certified Farmers’ Market
3pm-7pm
Main & Culver, Culver City
310-253-5775
http://www.downtownculvercity.com/newpages/farmersmarket.shtml
Wednesdays:
Santa Monica Wednesday Farmers’ Market
8:30am-1:30pm
Arizona Ave & 2nd Street
310-458-8712
http://www01.smgov.net/farmers_market/wednesday.htm
Northridge Farmers’ Market And Family
5pm-9pm (April-October)
Northridge Fashion Mall (between Macys and Borders)
9301 Tampa Ave
Northridge, CA 91324
805-643-6458
Hollywood Lemon Grove Farmers’ Market
10am-2:30pm
4959 Lemon Grove Ave @ Hobart Blvd.
323-463-3171
“The Hollywood Lemon Grove Farmers' Market is a certified farmers' market that opened on June 18, 2008. It is replacing the market formerly located in the Sears parking lot (known as the Hollywood-Sears Farmers' Market). The new market offers a variety of fruits and vegetables as well as nuts and dried fruits. In addition to a great selection of fresh produce, the market hosts events for children and adults including healthy cooking demonstrations, tastings, a salsa contest, Spring into Health activities, free raffles, live music, craft workshops and pumpkin carving for kids.
Thursdays:Westwood Farmers’ Market
12pm-6pm
Vets Garden, Westwood
310- 861-8188
“At the Westwood Farmers Market, at the Vet's Garden at the VA, the emphasis is on real farmers and on gourmet, hard to find foods. The market features more than thirty farmers and food vendors in a beautiful garden setting, plus plenty of shade, and lots of free parking! The market will serve farmers and consumers, and also the Vets Garden, which helps veterans with rehabilitation, training, and employment programs. Come to the garden to enjoy lunch or dinner, listen to music, and bring home your fruits and vegetables.”
Went here to buy food for my Green BBQ. The surroundings were quite pleasant: there is a garden to walk through and eat in while you listen to live music.
L.A. La Cienega Farmers’ Market
3pm-7pm
South La Cienega Blvd and West 18th Street, Los Angeles
562-495-1764
Century City Certified Farmers’ Market
11:30am-3pm
1800 Avenue of the Stars, Century City 90067
818-591-8161
Glendale Certified Farmers’ Market
9:30am-1pm
100 block of North Brand Blvd.
Between Broadway and Wilson
818-548-3155
http://www.downtownglendale.com/farmersmarket.html
“The Glendale Farmer's Market features everything from fresh-baked breads, farm-fresh vegetables and fruit, to honey, nuts, flowers, and plants. Some of the produce sellers offer organically grown produce so look for signs or ask the sellers for details about their growing methods.”
Fridays:Venice Farmers’ Market
7am-11am
Venice Way & Venice Blvd
310-399-6690
http://www.venicefarmersmarket.com/
Echo Park Farmers’ Market
3pm-7pm
Parking Lot #663 on Logan Street, south of Sunset Boulevard
323-463-3171
“The Echo Park Farmers’ Market opened on October 13, 2006 and features quality locally grown seasonal fruits and vegetables.
As with all SEE-LA’s markets, WIC (Women, Infant, and Children) Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program checks and EBT/Food Stamps are accepted."
Saturdays:
Santa Monica Pico Farmers’ Market
8am-1pm
Virginia Ave. Park (Pico & Cloverfield Blvd)
310-458-8712
http://www01.smgov.net/farmers_market/pico.htm
Santa Monica Saturday Organic Farmers’ Market
8:30am-1pm
Arizona Ave & 3rd Street, Santa Monica
310-458-8712
http://www01.smgov.net/farmers_market/saturday.htm
Burbank Farmers’ Market
8am-12:30pm
3rd St & Orange Grove (City Hall Parking Lot)
626-308-0457
http://www.burbank.com/farmers-market.php
“For the freshest fruits, vegetables and flowers, visit the Farmer's Market in Downtown Burbank, California every Saturday morning. Whether you are looking for fresh produce or organic foods, the Burbank Farmer's Market has a huge assortment of great products grown and made locally.
With farmers representing areas throughout Southern California, you can pick anything up from the standard vegetables and fruits to flowers, honey, breads, nuts, herbs and many more great treats.”
Old Town Calabasas Certified Farmers’ Market
8am-1pm
23504 Calabasas Rd.
Woodland Hills, 91364
(Calabasas Road & Mulholland Drive)
818-591-8161
http://www.cityofcalabasas.com/farmersmarket.html
L.A. Silver Lake Certified Farmers’ Market
8am-1:30pm
3700 Sunset Blvd
Between Edgecliff Dr & Maltman Ave (intersection of Griffith Park Blvd)
323-661-7771
http://www.sunsetjunction.org/farmersmarket.html
“Get the freshest vegetables and fruits directly from the original growers! Most items are organic produce and non-sprayed. We have apples, oranges, Asian pears, berries, nectarines, peaches, grapes, plums, limes, avocadoes, pomegranates, spinach, tomatoes, cucumbers, chilies, cauliflower, potatoes, asparagus, lettuce, onions, baby lettuce, Asian vegetables, cabbage, eggs, plants, orchids, the best flowers and more.
We also have pita bread, French crepes & Shawarma, fresh bread, gourmet tamales, dried fruit, fresh imported roasted coffee, tropical fruit, fresh from the farm natural juice, pupusas, Fresh Farmers' Market made Salads, fish, cheese & olives, pies, flan & herbs, pre-packaged Korean foods, Pizza, Empanadas, and sugar-cane juice & coconuts.
The market also features Arts and Crafts, including jewelry, incense, clothing and more.”
Sundays: 
Santa Monica Sunday Farmer’s Market
9:30am-1pm
2640 Main Street. (Ocean Park & Main St.)
310-458-8712
Pacific Palisades Farmers’ Market
8am-1pm
1037 Swarthmore Avenue
Pacific Palisades, 90272
(Between Sunset Blvd. and Monument)
818-591-8161
Beverly Hills Certified Farmers’ Market
9am-1pm
9300 block of Civic Center Drive, Beverly Hills
(310) 550-4796
http://www.beverlyhills.org/attractions/market/default.asp
“The Beverly Hills Farmers' Market is a weekly outdoor certified market which provides the community with the finest of California-grown, fresh and seasonal fruits and vegetables, juices, breads, specialty items and more in a festive outdoor street setting.”
Brentwood Certified Farmers’ Market
Gretna Green & San Vicente, Brentwood
9am-1pm
(818) 591-8161
Obviously a favorite of mine. See: Pluots & Strawberries & Raspberries OH MY!
Melrose Place Certified Farmers’ Market
9am-2pm
Melrose Place & Croft, Los Angeles
818-591-8161
Studio City Certified Farmers’ Market
8am-1pm
Ventura Place & Ventura Blvd., Studio City
818-655-7744
West L.A. Certified Farmers’ Market
9am-2pm
1645 Corinth Ave., Los Angeles
310-281-7855
Encino Certified Farmers’ Market
8am-1pm
Victory Blvd & White Oak, Encino
818-708-6611
“Encino Farmers Market is a fun way for every one in the family to spend time together for shopping, food and fun! The market is open year round on Sundays from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at 17400 Victory Blvd. (between White Oak and Balboa) with plenty of convenient parking.
We are a certified farmers market, featuring a great variety of California grown fruits, vegetables, fresh flowers, eggs and chicken, honey, mushrooms, plants, and more! During the peak months between May and November, about 40 farms from all over central and Southern California participate.”
Hollywood Farmers’ Market
8am-1pm
Ivar and Selma Avenue between Hollywood and Sunset Blvd.
323-463-3171
Parking: Cinerama Dome: $2 for first 2 hours with Market Validation (entrance at Ivar & Delongpre). Metered Parking: Check Parking Enforcement signs. Some meters FREE until 11AM on Sundays. Doolittle Theatre: Limited free parking. LA Film School: $2 parking; at NE corner of Ivar & Sunset
“The Hollywood Farmers' Market is a "certified" open-air street market with approximately 90 farmers, 30 local artisans, and 30 baked goods and prepared food vendors who sell their own products every Sunday. It is a direct-to-consumer marketplace with all produce and products from local, California vendors and growers.
Besides offering a fantastic variety of the freshest California-grown fruits and vegetables, the Hollywood Farmers' Market has increasingly become a destination shopping venue. Other products include honey, fish, free-range poultry and eggs, bison meat, gouda cheese, olives, mushrooms, sprouts, jams, jellies, fruit juices, specialty sauces and dips, dried fruit and nuts, an espresso cart, Mexican, Caribbean, Middle-Eastern and many other ethnic foods prepared at the market, hot crepes, breads, cookies, clothing, jewelry, gifts and so much more.
The Hollywood Farmers' Market also hosts street musicians every Sunday as well as local nonprofit community organizations and free special events for the community including chef demos, cookbook signings, tastings, children's craft workshops, and family-oriented festivals. Free helium balloons for children, recipes and other information in addition to Hollywood Farmers' Market t-shirts, aprons and bags are available at the Information Booth at Ivar and Selma Ave.
Accepts food stamp/EBT cards and WIC & Senior FMNP."
*Please note: the day, time and location for any given Farmers’ Market are subject to change.
Farmers' Market Information from:
http://www.farmernet.com/
Images via: Free People Clothing Boutique Blog, Notes By Naive, She Who Eats, "Chokes", Eat Your Fruits and Veggies
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