DISCOVER NORTHEAST LOS ANGELES

The historic, eclectic and diverse communities of Northeast Los Angeles grew from the gentle valley and hillsides along the Arroyo Seco, stretching in between Downtown Los Angeles and Pasadena.

Discover Northeast Los Angeles

The neighborhoods are now cross-cultural and dynamic, but much of their character can traced to Arts and Crafts movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The Arts and Crafts Movement celebrated individualism, creativity and pride of craftsmanship as a rebuttal to the Industrial Revolution , and as a counterpoint to Victorian formality.

The spirit of the Arts and Crafts Movement continues today as a vital and thriving Arts Community rooted in Northeast Los Angeles.


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October 24, 2010


WE TELL STORIES at HIGHLAND PARK'S OLD L.A. FARMER'S MARKET HAUNTED HARVEST FESTIVAL

WE TELL STORIES 5th annual HAUNTED HARVEST FESTIVAL
AT HIGHLAND PARK's OLD LA FARMERS MARKET

Tuseday, October 26, 2010  -- 3:00 - 8:00 PM

@ Old L.A. Farmer's Market at Avenue 58 and N. Figueroa Blvd, Highland Park, CA 90042, adjacent to the Metro Highland Park Station

On Tuesday, October 26, 2010 We Tell Stories, LA's multi-ethnic children's storytelling theatre company-presents The 5th Annual Haunted Harvest Storytelling Festival at the Old LA Farmer's Market at Ave. 58 and N. Figueroa Blvd. in Highland Park, California.  This outdoor festival is a great way for families to celebrate the harvest and enjoy Halloween in a comfortable, lively setting with fun for the whole family.  Hours are from 3:00 pm - 8:00 pm.  Admission is Free.

Click the image, or click this link to watch video:  http://www.wetellstories.org/media/ManyMoons.mov


We Tell Stories, performing since 1981, is known for bringing myths, legends, and literature from all cultures and times to extemporaneous life.  The Haunted Harvest storytelling whirlwind includes literature and folktales from around the world. From their seats or on the stage in costume, audience members are an integral part of the performance.

This years guest stars are world renowned Physical Theatre duo, Keith Berger and Sharon Diskin, The Chameleons, who have captivated thousands of audiences world wide with their electrifying Theatre in Motion! Also performing will be Artichoke, a Highland Park band known for catchy and melodic songs about scientists, animals, bees, and Highland Park itself.  And young performers from Ballet Folklorico Maria Felix from Ramona Hall Community Center in Highland Park will be preserving Mexican culture through dance right on our stage.  The troupe has performed at the LA County Fair and downtown LA's Olvera Street.

The ever popular Costume Contest is open to all ages.  Participants are also encouraged to enter their already-carved pumpkins in the Carved Pumpkin Contest.  The Festival's additional attractions include face painting, an arts and crafts table, fresh Farmer's Market produce and prepared foods, trick-or-treating and more.


The 2010 Haunted Harvest Storytelling Festival marks a continuation of the partnership between We Tell Stories and the North Figueroa Association (NFA). NFA voting members are property owners along the North Figueroa business corridor.  NFA organizes and supports the Old LA's Farmers Market. Both non-profits are long-time residents of Northeast L.A. who see community events as a way to enrich the cultural, social, and economic prosperity of Highland Park and other communities in Northeast Los Angeles.

We Tell Stories has entertained and educated more than four million youngsters and performs at major art institutions such as the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The Getty Center and the Getty Villa. The company was shaken by the state's economic downturn, and is now operating with a skeleton staff (get it? Skeleton?) but the show must go on. Misty Iwatsu, the Executive Director of NFA agrees.  She said, "The festival has become a Halloween tradition for the entire community, it would be a shame not to have it, and this year we expect to reach an even broader audience."

The 5th Annual Haunted Harvest Storytelling Festival is located at the Old L.A. Farmer's Market at Avenue 58 and N. Figueroa Blvd, Highland Park, CA 90042, adjacent to the Metro Highland Park Station, accessible from the Gold Line.  To plan the route that's best for you, use the Metro Trip Planner at www.metro.net or call 1.800. commute.  Metro riders can show their metro ticket stubs and get a free One-Dollar Farmer's Market Bill to spend at the farmers market.  To park enter the lot at Ave. 57.  Street parking is also available.

This project was funded in part by the Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles and supported by Councilmembers Ed P. Reyes.

For more information, call We Tell Stories at 323-256-2336 or visit  www.wetellstories.org .


October 27, 2009


Don't Forget - HAUNTED HARVEST FESTIVAL TODAY AT FARMER'S MARKET

WE TELL STORIES 4th annual HAUNTED HARVEST FESTIVAL
AT HIGHLAND PARK's OLD LA FARMERS MARKET

 P1020453


Featuring performances by the Grammy Award winning Mariachi Divas, We Tell  Stories children's theatre company, Taiko drummers, Folklorico dancers and more.

On Tuesday, October 27, 2009 We Tell Stories, LA's multi-ethnic children's storytelling theatre company—presents The 4th Annual Haunted Harvest Storytelling Festival at the Old LA Farmer's Market at Ave. 58 and N. Figueroa Blvd. in Highland Park, California (LA 90042). Hours are from 3:00 pm – 8:00 pm. Admission is Free.

We Tell Stories, performing since 1981, is known for bringing myths, legends, and literature from all Cultures and times to extemporaneous life. The Haunted Harvest storytelling whirlwind includes Aesop's fables and folktales from Japanese, Mexican and American Indian traditions. From their seats or on the stage in costume, audience members are an integral part of the performance.

This years guest stars are the Mariachi Divas, the multi-cultural all-female Latin band and winners of a 2008 Grammy award for their CD, "Canciones De Amor." In addition, Japanese Festival Sounds will feature the ancient art form of Taiko (Japanese drumming). Young performers from Ballet Folklorico Maria Felix from Ramona Hall Community Center in Highland Park preserve Mexican culture through dance. The troupe has performed at the LA County Fair and downtown LA's Olvera Street.

The ever popular Costume Contest is open to all ages. Participants are also encouraged to enter their already-carved pumpkins in the Carved Pumpkin Contest.  The Festival's additional attractions include face painting, an arts and crafts table, fresh Farmer's Market produce and prepared foods, trick-or-treating and more.

The 4th Annual Haunted Harvest Storytelling Festival is located at the Old L.A. Farmer's Market at Avenue 58 and N. Figueroa Blvd, Highland Park, CA 90042, adjacent to the Metro Highland Park Station, accessible from the Gold Line. To plan the route that's best for you, use the Metro Trip Planner at www.metro.net or call 1.800. commute. Metro riders can show their metro ticket stubs and get a free One-Dollar Farmer's Market Bill to spend at the farmers market. To park enter the lot at Ave. 57. Street parking is also available.

For more information, call We Tell Stories at 323-256-2336 or visit  http://www.wetellstories.org.


August 25, 2009


Tuesday is Old L A Farmer's Market Day in Highland Park

The Old L A Farmer's Market in Highland Park is held every Tuesday, rain or shine, from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

The Farmer's Market is held on Avenue 58 in between North Figueroa and Marmion Way, and on Marmion Way between Avenue 57 and Avenue 58.

You can ride the Metro Gold Line and get off at the Avenue 57 Station.  Or you can park in the public parking lot north of North Figueroa.  Enter the parking lot from Avenue 57.

And the market has more than fruit and veggies!  You can buy hot, prepared food; you can buy arts, crafts, jewelry and apparel.

And there's live entertainment!

08-25-2009


August 18, 2009


Old L A-Highland Park Farmer's Market Today!

 It's Tuesday! Come on over to the Old L.A. Farmers Market in Highland Park, from 3 to 7 pm, on Avenue 58 and Marmion Way.

P1020453 

Come for the entertainment and stay for the fresh produce, hot and prepared foods and arts and crafts.

The Old LA Farmers Market is every Tuesday from 3-8pm. Corner of North Figueroa and Ave. 58. Lots of free parking at Ave. 57. Adjacent to the Highland Park Metro Goldline.


August 11, 2009


Music Tonight at the Old L A Farmers Market

It's Tuesday! Come on over to the Old L.A. Farmers Market in Highland Park, from 3 to 7 pm, on Avenue 58 and Marmion Way.

And this week is a special treat!  Music at the Market!  Music at the Market! Sizzling Summer Music Nights!

Bands scheduled to play on August 11 are:
Crosby Tylor 4pm
Artichoke 5pm
The Seasons 6pm

Come for the entertainment and stay for the fresh produce, hot and prepared foods and arts and crafts.

The Old LA Farmers Market is every Tuesday from 3-8pm. Corner of North Figueroa and Ave. 58. Lots of free parking at Ave. 57. Adjacent to the Highland Park Metro Goldline.


August 04, 2009


Highland Park Old LA Farmers Market - Tuesdays

HPFMstonefruits


It's Tuesday! Come on over to the Old L.A. Farmers Market in Highland Park, from 3 to 7 pm, on Avenue 58 and Marmion Way.

And starting August 11: Music at the Market! Sizzling Summer Music Nights!

Bands scheduled to play on August 11 are:
Crosby Tylor 4pm
Artichoke 5pm
The Seasons 6pm

Come for the entertainment and stay for the fresh produce, hot and prepared foods and arts and crafts.

The Old LA Farmers Market is every Tuesday from 3-8pm. Corner of North Figueroa and Ave. 58. Lots of free parking at Ave. 57. Adjacent to the Highland Park Metro Goldline.


July 14, 2009


Old L A Farmers Market, in Highland Park Every Tuesday

HPFMstonefruits 

Every Tuesday afternoon is Farmer's Market Day in Highland Park.

The Old L.A. Farmers Market is open every Tuesday, from 3 to 7 p.m.

Support your local economy by coming to the farmers market, talking to the farmers, talking to the craftspeople, and meeting your neighbors.

Be sure to come and bring the whole family and all your neighbors. We're located on Ave. 58 between Figueroa and Marmion Way, every Tuesday, year-round.  You'll also find used books, and lots of crafts.


(Parking is readily available in the city lot to the west, and elsewhere.) All the farmers are located on Avenue 58.


July 07, 2009


Old L A Farmers Market, in Highland Park Every Tuesday

Friend, we hope to see you today at the Old L.A. Farmers Market-Highland Park's local farmers market. We're open every Tuesday, from 3 to 7 p.m.

Support your local economy by coming to the farmers market, talking to the farmers, talking to the craftspeople, and meeting your neighbors.

Be sure to come and bring the whole family and all your neighbors. We're located on Ave. 58 between Figueroa and Marmion Way, every Tuesday, year-round.


Have a seat, enjoy a tamale, chat with your neighbors, and get your fresh produce for the week. You'll also find used books, and lots of crafts.

Are these hard times worrying you? What better way to work our way through this than to network with neighbors, and find ways to cooperate to do things. Come meet your neighbors at the market!

(Parking is readily available in the city lot to the west, and elsewhere.) All the farmers are located on Avenue 58.


September 23, 2008


Tuesday is Farmer's Market Day

This week's Featured Vendor:

Do you like mixed nuts? Check out Avitua Farms.  Avitua Farms has been with the market from the very beginning. Run by Joe Avitua, whose been farming in Exeter since 1985. He specializes in citrus, apples, stone fruits and grapes, farming nearly 100 acres.

When you come to Old L A Farmer's Market, Avitua Farms is located at the southern-most location on Ave. 58 close to Figueroa; you'll see a selection of nuts (pecans, macadamians, walnuts, etc.) and dried fruits (raisins, persimmons, many others), all grown at the Avitua farm.

The Old L.A. Farmers Market in Highland Park is open every Tuesday, from 3 to 8, on Avenue 58 between North Figueroa and Marmion Way, and along Marmion Way.


September 16, 2008


OLD L.A. FARMERS MARKET

It’s Tuesday again! Join us at the Old L.A. Farmers Market in Highland Park. The market is open every Tuesday from 3 to 8, on Avenue 58 and Marmion Way.

Farmersmarket01

Note:  Old L.A. Farmer's Market accepts the EBT food stamp cards for food purchases.

Every week there is a Neighborhood Council booth where you can learn about what’s going on throughout your community.

The Market also features numerous craft vendors, located on Marmion Way, and farmers, whose booths are on the east side of Avenue 58, north from Figueroa.


July 15, 2008


Don't Forget Tuesday Afternoon Is Farmer's Market

Highland Park Farmers Market is held every Tuesday  on Avenue 58 between Figueroa and Marmion Way, from 3 to 8 pm. Parking is readily available in the city lot to the west, and elsewhere.

There will be more vendors this week and in the coming weeks – the used book seller will be back, and there will be more foods and crafts. You can buy your fruits and vegetables that are in season, and talk to your friends while you rest awhile and enjoy a fresh tamale.

The market is located right in front of the Metro Station, so you can get there without needing a car.

Hope to see you this Tuesday and every Tuesday.

FOOD STAMP EBT CARD NOW ACCEPTED AT OLD L.A. FARMERS MARKET


July 01, 2008


Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmer's Market Report

Well, I have been really remiss in getting my farmers market reports out in the past few weeks. I have a hundred excuses (the heat, work, out of town, etc. etc.), but I have really missed the market and can't wait to get back. I'm going tomorrow and am dying to get my hands on some delicious fresh cherries. I can eat them like candy all day long. Other treats I'm on the hunt for: apricots and nectarines (they perfume the air of the whole market!).

Of course, I need my healthy green veggies, too. I'll be looking for fresh asparagus, zucchini, cucumbers, tomatoes, artichokes, eggplant, onions, herbs.... All the good stuff for tossing together in salads, topping pasta or filling an omelet on those days when it's too hot to cook, but you still want to eat well. I've read several articles lately extolling the virtues of organic product. They think it contains much higher levels of nutrients than non-organic produce..... Luckily for all of us, most of the produce at the Old L.A. Farmer's Market is certified organic.

The market is found every Tuesday from 3- 8 p.m. on Avenue 58 and Marmion Way, between the Gold Line station and Figueroa Blvd. There is FREE PARKING after 4 p.m. in the lot adjacent to the market.

See you there,
ML


May 05, 2008


Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmer's Market Report 4/29/08

One thing we tend to take for granted, those of us who live in Southern California, is the abundance of delicious, fresh and healthy produce that is available to us all year 'round. This was brought home to me when we had family in town from the midwest last week.

They had come here for a birthday celebration and were able to spend a couple of extra days hanging out in our fantastic weather. On one of the hottest days we've had so far this year in NE LA, we piled into the car and headed out to Malibu. But being at the beach makes me hungry, so I packed up some sandwiches and fresh fruit to take along with us.

You cannot imagine the impact a cucumber can have on someone! I had picked up some fresh cucumbers at the farmers market a few days earlier. Without giving it too much thought, I sliced them up and popped them on some bagels with a smear of cream cheese and some smoked salmon. Delish! But the cucumbers were the talk of the trip from that point on..... How fresh, how delicious, how sweet and crunchy... Nothing else our relatives ate on their entire trip inspired as much conversation or compliments. Of course, I basked in the attention and got all the credit for the making the most amazing sandwich (which really just boils down to having the good sense to buy a few cucumbers at the market - who would've thought?).

Now, I have to say that I myself do love these cukes. They are small, have few seeds and a thin skin that is NOT waxed, so they are yummy unpeeled. I find myself putting them on everything (they are especially good with egg salad).

The other big impression on our out-of-town family was made by juicy, ripe strawberries on homemade waffles for breakfast one morning. They add color and vitamins, as well as flavor and sweetness to an otherwise only marginally healthy breakfast. Fresh squeezed juice (from citrus from the market, of course) is the prefect compliment.

It is easy to overlook how lucky we are to have such a variety of fresh, healthy and delicious produce available to us at any time of the year. To see this bounty through the eyes of visitors really brings it home and makes me grateful to live in CA and also to have a great farmers market to shop at within just a few blocks of home.

The market is found every Tuesday from 3- 8 p.m. on Avenue 58 and Marmion Way, between the Gold Line station and Figueroa Blvd. There is FREE PARKING after 4 p.m. in the lot adjacent to the market.

See you there. ML


April 07, 2008


Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmers Market - April 3, 2008

Comparing apples and oranges..... Well, maybe you are not "supposed" to do this, but it sure tastes good if you do. Last week, the farmers market was bursting with apples of all kinds and citrus of all kinds, including oranges, kumquats, grapefruit and -- my personal favorite -- blood oranges. I brought home a bag of each to snack on through the week. The apples are sweet and crunchy. The citrus is tart an juicy. There's no need to choose between them -- you need some of each!

This time of year, I love to add chopped up apples to salads. In our cool but not cold, warm but not hot, Southern California spring climate, big, meal-sized salads are really satisfying for lunch or dinner. I love adding chopped fruit and nuts to them to make them even more substantial and filling. The apples that dominate at the farmers market right now are called Pink Ladies -- even the name is delicious! -- and they are crisp and sweet. These are perfect in a salad along with some walnuts, chopped celery and leafy greens -- all of these items can be found at the farmers market within just a few yards of each other.  You can whip up a complimentary dressing using walnut oil and cider vinegar to add layers of nutty fruitiness to the flavors.

The fabulous citrus available this time of year brightens the longer days with intense flavor and color. Blood oranges, with their ruby colored fruit and juice, look at wonderful as they taste. The juice is refreshing to drink when fresh squeezed or it can be reduced down to a light glaze on the stovetop to use as a sauce on poultry or even ice cream! Kumquats are my personal favorite. This time of year I carry around a small bag of kumquats wherever I go and pop them in my mouth whole for a juicy, zingy snack. The peels are so thin and have so much flavor, it's like eating candy with an edible wrapper. I can easily eat a dozen in a brief amount of time. Grapefruits are also abundant at this time of year and add another dimension to the fruit bowl. You can sprinkle some sugar on the cut side of a halved grapefruit and then stick it under the broiler for a minute or two until the sugar carmelizes into a sweet and cruchy crust on the fruit.

In addition to apples and citrus, the market is bursting with other produce, such as asparagus, broccoli, eggplant and green beans, as well as nuts, cheeses, oils and vinegars. There is a week's worth of groceries right at your fingertips on Tuesday evenings from 3 - 7 p.m. on Avenue 56, between Figueroa and Marmion Way, right next to the Gold Line station. Parking in the lot is FREE after 4 p.m., or save some gas money and take the train or a bus.

See you there!
ML


March 17, 2008


Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmer's Market Report 3/11/08

The market was hopping last week due to the warm weather, long days and – apparently – big appetites for all the new produce.

I scored a large bag of goodies – all of it organic – for what I thought was a great bargain. This week, my acquisitions included:

• 2 bunches of asparagus (both the thick and think versions were available – I chose thick, which are better for grilling).
• 1 bunch of carrots (tops on –the greens go into my compost bin)
• 3 cucumbers
• 3 zucchini
• 3 small eggplant
• 1 bunch of celery
• 3 Gala apples (Fuji were also available)
• 1 gorgeous Asian pear
• 1 plump pink grapefruit

All of the above were organic and all of it cost me a grand total of $15. As of today, we’ve eaten about half of it (there are 2 adults in my house, no kids). The asparagus and eggplant went on the grill (to go on a bed of cous cous from Trader Joes for a quick dinner ready in about 10 minutes). The zucchini was grated and mixed into pasta sauce. The celery was chopped up to add crunch to egg salad and tuna salad. I have some leftover to put into soup, along with some of the carrots. The apples, pear and grapefruit have been great just for snacking throughout the day, when my sweet tooth hits.

This is only the beginning of what promises to be a great year for locally grown fruits and veggies! All of the rains we endured over the winter will really begin to pay off now.

The market is found every Tuesday from 3- 8 p.m. on Avenue 58 and Marmion Way, between the Gold Line station and Figueroa Blvd. There is FREE PARKING after 4 p.m. in the lot adjacent to the market.

See you there. ML


March 10, 2008


Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmers Market

Hi, everybody! It's been a long time since I've written in.... I got very busy with work (I'm sure many of you can relate) and then I was out of town for a bit. But now I'm back. The weather is gorgeous and as of this weekend, the days are even longer. That means that it's still light out at the market in the evenings, up until almost 7, so it's easy to get there after work and you can actually see the produce you are selecting.

And there are so many good things to buy right now! Citrus, of course, is king this time of year. The lemons, oranges, tangerines, tangelos and grapefruit are abundant, juicy and delicious and packed with vitamin C. Other good things to indulge in right now are eggplants, broccoli and asparagus.

Here's a fantastic and simple way to eat farm fresh, spring asparagus... Snap off the hard ends and simply boil or steam it until is is bright green and still crisp (maybe 5 minutes, if it's thin), then just toss it with a little bit of butter, a squeeze of lemon juice (see citrus, above) and salt and pepper. The whole operation takes about 10 minutes and this is a nice side dish with any kind of protein you like or maybe just for a healthy snack or even with an egg and toast for breakfast (and don't forget the fresh squeezed orange juice!). Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day and a great time to get in a few servings of fruits and vegetables.

The market is found every Tuesday from 3- 8 p.m. on Avenue 58 and Marmion Way, between the Gold Line station and Figueroa Blvd. There is FREE PARKING after 4 p.m. in the lot adjacent to the market.

See you there. ML



January 14, 2008


Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmer's Market Report 1/8/08

Well, after several weeks “off”, due to holidays and weather, the Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmer’s Market was back in action on Tuesday afternoon. It was a quiet day at the market, without as many vendors as usual, but it was nice to have it back. I am getting my new year started off on the right foot by stocking my kitchen with healthy and tasty foods.

At this time of year, citrus abounds at the market. Oranges and grapefruits overflow the boxes placed on the tables. I love freshly squeezed juice and citrus is so easy to do whether you have a fancy, electric juicer or an old-fashioned, hand-operated one like mine (inherited from a grandparent and still in great working order!). My favorite thing to do is mix up whatever citrus juices I have for a custom-made blend that is always unique and refreshing. I often mix oranges, grapefruit and even throw in some lemon. The ratio doesn’t matter, except for personal preference. If it’s too tart, a little bit of honey will smooth it out. And guess what? Honey is also available at the market!

I was tempted into buying a three-pack of strawberries at the market this week. I know that I should know better. To be honest, they were not the best strawberries I’ve had and nothing like the fabulous ones we get in summer. They were beautiful red on the outside, and even had a nice fragrance, but were sadly white and hard when cut into. Nevertheless, they are not wasted! I cleaned and chopped them up, then put them in the freezer. Now, in the mornings, I blend up smoothies with the frozen berries, some fresh squeezed citrus juice and whatever else I have on hand, whether it be a banana, yogurt, soy milk or even – why not? – a little vanilla ice cream. Not a bad start for a new day and a new year.

The market is found every Tuesday from 3- 8 p.m. on Avenue 58 and Marmion Way, between the Gold Line station and Figueroa Blvd. There is FREE PARKING after 4 p.m. in the lot adjacent to the market.

See you there. ML


December 24, 2007


Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmer's Market Report 12/17/07

Hello Highland Park!

Unfortunately, the Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmers Market was rained out last week, so nothing to report. I'm very glad that we all got some much needed rain and started to build up the snow pack in the mountains. The farmers will need the water to irrigate their crops so they can continue to bring fresh, nutritious and beautiful produce to market for all of us.

Today is Christmas Eve. I wish all of you and your families a happy holiday and bright, fun, healthy new year!!

I'll resume market reports in January when the market is back and I'll need to cook some healthy meals full of fresh fruits and vegetables to battle the aftermath of the holiday indulgences.

See you soon,
Maggie


December 10, 2007


Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmer's Market Report 12/4/07

This year, between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I’ve decided to avoid the mall at all costs. All of my holiday shopping, what little I do, will be done at small, independent shops, hopefully right in my neighborhood (who can afford to buy gifts if you have to spend your money on gas driving all over town?). Luckily for me, Highland Park and other nearby neighborhoods have an abundance of resources for a discriminating shopper.

My very first shopping spree of the season took place at the Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmers Market last week at Uncle Berch’s stand. They have my favorite salad dressing and marinade ingredient in the world – avocado oil blended with a touch of blood orange. It is deliciously fragrant and elegant. It happens to be very healthy, too – all that mono-unsaturated fat to keep your cholesterol in check. Although I’ve been buying it for myself all year, now is the perfect time to share this treasure with those I love. I bought half a dozen bottles to spread around to members of my family. Uncle Berch’s has an amazing variety of gourmet products that make ideal gifts for anyone on your list who likes to eat (and really, who doesn’t?). The avocado oil comes blended with other flavors such as key lime and toasted garlic. There is a variety of gorgeous olive oils as well as balsamic vinegars of different ages and with different flavorings, such as berries. There are also homemade jams in range of unusual and delicious flavors, which vary weekly. A small collection of oil, vinegar and jam, all placed together in a pretty basket or box, tied up with a bow makes a beautiful gift.

If you want to do an even more elaborate gift basket, consider adding some dried fruits and nuts from the stand right next to Uncle Berch’s. At this time of year, when everyone is inundated with chocolates and cookies, a basket full of healthy and tasty treats is most welcome.

The market is found every Tuesday from 3- 8 p.m. on Avenue 58 and Marmion Way, between the Gold Line station and Figueroa Blvd. There is FREE PARKING after 4 p.m. in the lot adjacent to the market.

See you there. ML


November 27, 2007


Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmer's Market Report 11/20/07

Last week, we (my husband and I) hosted Thanksgiving dinner at our house for the first time ever. And we survived it! We had nine people for dinner, including siblings from both sides and their respective families.

The group includes: a quasi-vegetarian, a more serious vegetarian, a bunch of carnivores, a couple of picky kids and someone who doesn’t like onions. My hub did a great job with the turkey. There was a sausage stuffing and a mushroom stuffing, a “real” gravy and a vegetarian gravy (surprisingly delicious, made with a roux and homemade roasted vegetable stock). We did some zucchini on the grill at the last minute, while the roasted sweet potato fries were coming out of the oven and the white potatoes (well, Yukon gold) were being mashed. The salad was dressed (romaine, pears, walnuts and gorgonzola – what’s better than that???) and everything pretty much hit the table all at the same time. Remarkably lucky for our first try at this dinner, but we had lots of help in the kitchen.

The stand-out dish of the entire meal was the mashed potatoes with a pear puree. Everyone loved it, no matter what the individual’s dietary preference or habit. The pear puree was made the day before and kept in the fridge, to be heated slightly in the microwave and then swirled into the potatoes just before serving. The best part? Every ingredient came from the farmers market – the potatoes, the turnips (optional, in my opinion), the pears, the lemon, even the honey! I think that is the reason it tasted so good. The recipe can be found here, on the Epicurious website:

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/231102

We will definitely be making these potatoes again and again through the chilly winter months. An added bonus: the pears make the house smell delicious when they are roasting.


The market is found every Tuesday from 3- 8 p.m. on Avenue 58 and Marmion Way, between the Gold Line station and Figueroa Blvd. There is FREE PARKING after 4 p.m. in the lot adjacent to the market.

See you there. ML


November 19, 2007


Old L.A. (HP) Farmer's Market Report

It’s always a little sad when it starts getting dark so early this time of year, but it makes me crave warm, comforting, homemade food… and that means shopping at the farmer’s market for all the right ingredients.

This week I’m on an eggplant kick. I picked up some darling “baby” eggplants at the market. They are about the size of a small orange, beautiful dark, smooth skins and very plump. Bigger eggplants can occasionally get bitter, but there was no danger of that with these cuties, and they had very few seeds (which can also lead to bitterness).

We ate some that very evening on top of a homemade pizza (whipping up a pizza is so easy to do with dough, sauce and cheese from Trader Joe’s – just top with your favorite farmers market finds that week).

Afterwards, I found a very clever idea for eggplant on www.chowhound.com -- lightly breading and cooking in your waffle iron! If you have kids, this may be a new way to get them to eat veggies. No joke; check out this link (and I’m going to try it for dinner tonight myself):

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/446954

The market is found every Tuesday from 3- 8 p.m. on Avenue 58 and Marmion Way, between the Gold Line station and Figueroa Blvd. There is FREE PARKING after 4 p.m. in the lot adjacent to the market.

See you there. ML


November 05, 2007


Old L.A. (HP) Farmer's Market Report

For those of you who may have missed my farmers' market report, please accept my apologies and know that I have missed them, too! My fridge is empty and the cupboards are bare. I've had to survive on pantry staples and frozen entrees for the past couple of weeks.

Sadly, I've not been able to make it to the market recently due to working later than usual, and being away makes me appreciate it all the more. I can hardly bring myself to buy produce from the supermarket -- the prices are higher but the quality is not!

I can't wait to get back to the market this week to stock up on apples, pears, broccoli and greens, the remaining summer tomatoes and zucchini. I'm really looking forward to seeing squashes and other cool season favorites. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it.

Now that there's a distinct chill in the air (are the Santa Ana winds finally behind us?), I can't wait to make soups and stews and turn the oven back on for roasting. Just about everything tastes great roasted (with a little olive oil and seasoning, nothing could be easier or more satisfying)!

So I found out that it's true what they say, absense does make the heart grow fonder, and I'm looking forward to shopping tomorrow.

The Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmers Marktet is located on Aveune 58, between Figueroa and the Meridian Way, next to the Gold Line station. There is free parking in the adjacent parking lot after 4 p.m.
See you there!
ML


October 23, 2007


Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmer's Market Report

his is what I love about the Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmers Market – not having to cook dinner! Well, I do love to cook, but some days, it’s just not going to happen. Just because I don’t want to cook doesn’t mean I don’t want to eat something tasty and satisfying. That’s where the market comes in, conveniently scheduled around dinner-time.

This week I picked up tamales – chile / jack cheese for me and chicken and pork for my husband. Along with a green salad (greens from the market, of course), they made a great, light supper and took no time at all to prepare (just unwrap the corn husks). Other good options for dinner on the go are tacos and roasted chickens. There are still stone fruits to be found, even at this time of year. Try slicing some fresh peaches or nectarines on top of vanilla ice cream for a (relatively) healthy finale to your quick and easy dinner.

The market is found every Tuesday from 3- 8 p.m. on Avenue 58 and Marmion Way, between the Gold Line station and Figueroa Blvd. There is FREE PARKING after 4 p.m. in the lot adjacent to the market.

See you there. ML


October 15, 2007


Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmer's Market Report

More new vendors at the market this week: now we have kettle corn!

Now that fall is here, I am in the mood for soup. Each week I visit the market, I am on the hunt for soup ingredients. This week it is potatoes and leeks procured from the market. I make the soup in my slow cooker and let it simmer all day while I work, run errands and otherwise ignore it until it’s ready to puree with a stick blender and then eat. It’s smooth, creamy and satisfying on these days that are getting shorter and cooler in the evenings.

I am also making an attempt to try at least one new thing every week, so this time I bought persimmons, which I admit to never having eaten before… I am not sure what to do with them, but I did find these recipes on the web:

http://www.seasonalchef.com/persimmonrecipes.htm

If any of you have favorite recipes or ways of eating fresh persimmons, please let me know! I could use some help.

I am also trying to put into practice the old adage “An apple a day….” I’m stocking up each week and trying to eat a whole apple every single day, as a snack or as part of a meal, chopped up in a salad or thinly sliced on a grilled cheese sandwich. There are several varieties to choose from; they are super portable and last all week long in the fruit bowl.

The market is found every Tuesday from 3- 8 p.m. on Avenue 58 and Marmion Way, between the Gold Line station and Figueroa Blvd. There is FREE PARKING after 4 p.m. in the lot adjacent to the market.

See you there. ML


October 01, 2007


Old L.A. (HP) Farmer's Market Report

Fall is here! I visited the Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmer’s Market – in its new location along Avenue 58 – just a few days after the fall equinox, the “official” beginning of the fall season. Sure enough, there was an abundance of fall produce.

Gala apples are available at nearly every stand. They have a sweet flavor with a hint of honey. They are great for using in salads or sautéing in butter to put over pancakes. Fuji apples should appear at the market in another week or so.

Now there are several varieties of pears to choose from, or to mix and match, including Bartlett, Bosc and Asian. A collection of pears makes a beautiful arrangement in a large fruit-bowl. Keep them on your counter or table and then grab one to snack on as they ripen.

Finally, my favorite – ripe pomegranates have appeared at the market. Their sweet, tart, crunchy seeds are perfect in salads, on yogurt or even in cocktails! For a great technique to extract the jewel-like seeds, check out this website:

Pomegranate

There is a new shaved ice vendor at the market. Give it a try while the weather is still warm.

Great news: we managed to get through a week without any incidents involving the Gold Line.

The market is found every Tuesday from 3- 8 p.m. on Avenue 58 and Marmion Way, between the Gold Line station and Figueroa Blvd.

See you there. ML


September 25, 2007


Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmer's Market Report 9/11/07

What a nice surprise to go to the market last week and finally find it in its new location! There are now two spokes emanating from the corner of Marmion Way and Avenue 58. One leg runs along Marmion Way, alongside the Gold Line tracks. This is the “non-certified” section of the market with crafts and goods such as jewelry, clothing, soaps, etc. The other leg runs from Marmion Way to Figueroa, along Avenue 58. This is the “certified” section of the market, with fresh produce, plants available for sale and prepared foods such as tamales and roasted chickens. The market is now nicely visible from both the Gold Line station and from the main drag of Figueroa Blvd. Maybe this will encourage new visitors to check out the market and become regular shoppers!

Now that the weather is getting cooler – finally – I’m ready to turn on my oven again and make some hearty comfort foods. I stocked up on healthy staples such as fresh broccoli, Peruvian purple potatoes, green beans, various onions – all of these are great for roasting with a little olive oil and sea salt. This time of year, I love a nice roasted vegetable warm salad and can make a meal out of that alone, with a nice Asian pear (from the market, of course) for dessert.

The market will now be found every Tuesday from 3- 8 p.m. on Avenue 58 and Marmion Way, between the Gold Line station and Figueroa Blvd. In Seth’s words: “Please stop by the market for fresh, field-ripened, high quality produce from local farmers and spend time with your friends, neighbors and other community members.”

Oh, and let’s see if we can avoid any more accidents involving the Gold Line…. Those lights and guard rails are there for a reason. Please be careful!

See you there. ML


September 17, 2007


Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmer's Market Report 9/11/07

I was surprised once again to find the Farmer’s Market in its “old” location last week. I wonder if it had anything to do with the sad collision between the Gold Line and a truck very near that location…..?

The market was very quiet last week, but it was the perfect opportunity to grab some delicious, crisp Gala apples and a jar of sage honey with which to celebrate Rosh Hashanah the following evening. Of course, I couldn’t resist scooping up a few more jujubes – my new favorite late summer fruit and a great companion to the apples to launch a sweet new year!

Is this the week the market will finally be in its new location on Avenue 58? The anticipation is building….Stop by tomorrow afternoon and we’ll find out together.

ML


September 10, 2007


Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmer's Market Report 9/5/07

I found two surprises at the Old L.A. (HP) Farmers Market when I visited last week:

1) The market was in it’s “old” (usual) location. Apparently, the move to Avenue 58 was delayed until this week, so when I visit tomorrow, the market will most likely be in its new location on Avenue 58, between Figueroa and Marmion Way. Parking will be available in the lot that the market used to occupy.

2) I discovered an amazing new fruit called a “jujube”, otherwise known as a Chinese date. I had never heard of these before. They are small, about the size of a small plum, and similarly round in shape. The ones I bought were bright yellow / green with reddish-brown spots. I was told I could eat them just like that (and the taste and texture would be similar to an apple), and I could also wait and eat them later, when they turned all brown and wrinkly (and the taste and texture would be similar to that of a date)…. Hmmmm………

I bought a handful and took the jujubes home to experiment a little. I ate one right away. Yes, there might be a hint of apple, but I agree with one comment I read on the internet: it tasted like a “sweet, crunchy styrofoam cup.”. Not bad, but not very exciting either. Nevertheless, they are very pretty little fruits, so I put them in a bowl on the counter and waited, until today….. Now they are all solid reddish-brown and wrinkled. I cut one in half and took a bite (skin on) – DELICIOUS. No longer crunchy, the flesh is smooth and slightly chewy. They are very sweet, but with a nicy tangy note of tart, too. The flavor is very intense and concentrated. They remind me a little bit of dried apples (the soft chewy ones, not the crunchy variety). Now I’m glad I bought so many!

Jujubes are thought to be extremely healthy (packed with vitamin C) and also to have medicinal properties. A tea made from them can be used to soothe a sore throat, among many other uses. They are commonly used in Chinese medicine for a variety of ailments.

I found a recipe for steamed pears, stuffed with jujubes and you may want to get some for yourself and give it a try:

http://chinesefood.about.com/od/dessertsfruit/r/steamedpears.htm

For myself, I think I’ll just finish eating them fresh, out of hand, before the afternoon is over.

See you tomorrow at the markets new location on Avenue 58.
ML


September 05, 2007


Haunted Harvest Storytelling Festival

Haunted Harvest Storytelling Festivall is back for the 2nd year. Join the Old L.A. Farmers Market in Highland Park for a scary night on the town. Teusday, Oct. 30 from 3-8 pm at North Figueroa & Ave. 58.
We Tell Stories will have three performances, Puppets & Players Little Theater will be performing also.

The Haunted House will scare you. definately not for younger kids. Enjoy trick or treating, face painting, a costume contest and a raffle.

Enjoy Hot & Prepared Foods, Fresh Produce and arts & crafts.

Event is free and open to all.

Old L.A. Farmers Market is every Tuesdays from 3-8 pm.


August 24, 2007


Old L.A. (HP) Farmer's Market Report

Whoever came up with the phrase “eat your colors” must have been a farmers market devotee. It’s a good way to eat and a fun way to shop, especially in the middle of summer when the riot of colors at the market is at its peak.

This week I was enthralled with all things purple, especially gorgeous purple potatoes. With these beauties, I made a delicious, warm potato salad, including red onions, dark ruby red heirloom tomatoes and bright, fresh basil – each item procured at the market. Topped off with a little smoked salmon for protein and flavor and it was an entirely satisfying meal.

My latest obsession is a book I just got my hands on called “12 Best Foods Cookbook” with over 200 recipes for using them in every day meals. Of the “12 Best”, over half of them can easily be gotten from the farmers market, including: blueberries (when in season), sweet potatoes, spinach (nearly always available), broccoli (plenty of good looking heads at the market last week), tomatoes (of all shapes, sizes and colors!), walnuts (also at the market) and onions (like the tomatoes, available in stunning variety). Throughout the book, the recipes incorporate many other “super-healthy” fruits, veggies and nuts easily picked up at the market: strawberries, avocados, grapes, greens of all kinds, red and yellow peppers, corn, melon and various squash. OK – typing that list made me hungry, so I’m headed off to the kitchen to put together my next meal.

I am away next week, so you won’t see a report from me for the August 28 market, but I will be back to see you all at the market in it’s new location on Avenue 58 on September 4th. Until then, stay healthy and enjoy the remains of the summer.

ML


August 20, 2007


Old L.A. (HP) Farmer's Market Report

Big news at the market! It’s going to be moving, just slightly, over to Avenue 58, between Marmion Way and Figueroa, where it will be visible from both the Gold Line and passing traffic on Figueroa. Hopefully, this will bring new shoppers and vendors to the market, so this local institution will continue to grow and thrive. As an added bonus, parking will be available in the lot where the market has been set up. All of this takes place as of September 4, so come check it out at the grand re-opening.

My big score at the market this week was a basket of fresh, black Mission figs. Delicious! You can eat them by themselves, chopped up in a salad or on ice cream; or make them into an elegant appetizer......Who needs a fancy Westside restaurant when you can doctor up these jewels at home? Try this classic, which is served all over town at high-end hot spots, but is simple to make:

Bacon wrapped figs stuffed with goat cheese:
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/105402

You can even find the goat cheese, the lemons, the mesclun salad and the olive oil needed for this recipe at the market!

We are continuing to enjoy the usual summer bounty, tree-ripened stone fruits, fresh sweet corn, plump and juicy tomatoes…..Summer never lasts long enough and my plan is to eat as much as possible of these healthy and tasty treats while they are still here in abundance.

The market will be found this Tuesday from 3- 8 p.m. near the Highland Park Gold Line station at Marmion Way, between Avenues 57 & 58 (one block west of Figueroa). In Seth’s words: “Please stop by the market for fresh, field-ripened, high quality produce from local farmers and spend time with your friends, neighbors and other community members.”

See you there. ML


August 13, 2007


Old L.A. (HP) Farmer's Market Report

This week at the farmer’s market, I picked up my usual favorites: avocados (back at the market in abundance!), tomatoes, fresh beans, huge bunches of scallions and cilantro, and tree-ripened summer stone fruits. In addition to the usuals (fragrant tangerines, peaches and pluots) I discovered an entirely new fruit that I’d never heard of before. It’s called sapote and is apparently popular in South America. I turns out that parts of Florida and California provide excellent growing conditions for this fruit. This type is a white sapote (the flesh inside is white, but the skin outside – which is thin and perfectly edible – is bright green, mellowing to yellow as it ripens).

The vendor (who also had delicious avocados, by the way), described the fruit as something like a cross between a pear and an avocado. I bought the fruit while it was still hard, but let it ripen over several days. It is ready when it gives slightly to pressure from your finger, just like avocados and pears. Others describe the taste as custardy, creamy, buttery and silky, like a cross between a banana and a peach. It does indeed have a very smooth, creamy texture. The flavor is very, very mild, with a hint of pear. It is delicious with a little squeeze of lemon or lime – the acid is a nice contrast to the richness of the fruit.

It is not easy to find recipes for sapote. Epicurious (my usual go-to website for recipes) comes up short. But… Google to the rescue. Here is a paraphrase of a recipe for a sapote shake, to help you cool off this summer:

A cup of sapote, peeled and seeded (the fruit has very few seeds)
A cup of yogurt (plain or vanilla would be good)
3 T of honey
½ cup of milk
dash of ground cinammon
cracked ice (to taste)

Put all in the blender and blend until smooth – drink immediately.

The market is found every Tuesday from 3- 8 p.m. near the Highland Park Gold Line station at Marmion Way, between Avenues 57 & 58 (one block west of Figueroa). In Seth’s words: “Please stop by the market for fresh, field-ripened, high quality produce from local farmers and spend time with your friends, neighbors and other community members.”

See you there. ML


August 06, 2007


Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmer's Market Report 7/31/07

It’s Tuesday evening and, as per my usual habit, I hit the Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmer’s Market to stock up on fresh produce for the week’s lunches and dinners. Although some vendors are m.i.a. this week, there is a new one worth noting – a student group from Pierce College in the San Fernando Valley has been growing pesticide-free herbs and veggies on campus and they have brought them here to share with us. I score some plump, juicy plum tomatoes from them. They are also selling fresh basil (which goes oh, so well with the tomatoes!) and the largest summer squash and zucchini I’ve ever seen. Judge for yourself in this photo.

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The squash are not the only overgrown edibles at the market this week. The strawberries are abundant and for $5.00 we get a three-pack of the biggest, reddest, most fragrant berries I’ve seen all year. They will make a perfect strawberry shortcake with some freshly whipped cream and a bit of fresh mint from the garden. There are also several kinds of delicious grapes to add to the fruit bowl. High in iron and antioxidants, they make a tasty and healthy treat on a hot summer day. Try freezing the grapes and eating them while still frozen for a refreshing antidote to the blazing summer temperatures. Cool agua frescas are another way to chill out and hydrate while strolling through the market.

The market is found every Tuesday from 3- 8 p.m. near the Highland Park Gold Line station at Marmion Way, between Avenues 57 & 58 (one block west of Figueroa). In Seth’s words: “Please stop by the market for fresh, field-ripened, high quality produce from local farmers and spend time with your friends, neighbors and other community members.”

See you there. ML


July 29, 2007


Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmer's Market Report

On my weekly visit to the Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmer’s Market, I get to pick up delicious, fresh produce to satisfy physical needs and visit with friends and neighbors to satisfy social needs, too! I recruit my friend Kim as a shopping buddy and we hit the market, empty canvas bags in hand, ready to be filled. A neighbor from my very own Highland Park street – Al Strange – is manning a community table laden with flyers and announcements for local events and activities. Greetings and chitchat duly exchanged and we are off to procure this week’s goodies.

Kim scores on tree-ripened, fragrant peaches the size of softballs. These would be ideal in a cobbler – the official dessert of summer. Even better, try a peach-strawberry cobbler, such as this recipe from epicurious.com. You can use all fruit from the market (strawberries are still going strong, but who knows for how much longer?):

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/recipe_views/views/101825

The bounty of stone fruits is compelling, especially with all the samples available to taste, but this week is all about the avocados for me. I scoop up several medium-sized Haas for $1 each (another vendor has larger ones for $1.50 each) and 3 lbs of vine-ripened, scarlet colored tomatoes that are near bursting with juice. I have plans for both guacamole and a quick, fresh tomato sauce to use these up (with garlic and onion from the market, natch), but I’ll set aside one or two of each for salads with fresh spinach. The finishing touch for the salad is a light vinaigrette made with blood orange scented avocado oil, purchased at –where else? – the farmer’s market. The oil is a splurge at $12 for a bottle, but in addition to its great taste (you can taste before you buy at the market!), it is a mono-unsaturated fat that is good for your heart. Who can put a price on good health?

Need some protein to balance out all the rabbit food? The roasted chickens are back at the market this week. Buy a whole one or two to take home and give your oven a rest during these hot summer evenings.

The market is found every Tuesday from 3- 8 p.m. near the Highland Park Gold Line station at Marmion Way, between Avenues 57 & 58 (one block west of Figueroa). In Seth’s words: “Please stop by the market for fresh, field-ripened, high quality produce from local farmers and spend time with your friends, neighbors and other community members.”

See you there. ML

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Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket


July 23, 2007


Old L.A. Farmer's Market Report

Picking up where Seth left off, I visited the Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmers’ Market last week to stock my kitchen, mingle with neighbors and spend some time outside on a glorious, hot summer afternoon.

Stone fruits dominate the market at this time of year. The fragrance of fresh nectarines wafted in the air yards away from the stand where they were found. This time, however, I opted for the pluots – a cross between an apricot and a plum. The kind vendor with the fancy handlebar mustache readily offered samples. There were three different varieties to choose from, so I took a few of each! The flavors of the fruit range from more sweet to a little tart and you can definitely taste the plum and apricot flavors distinctly. One has a light skin with a dark pink flesh that is as gorgeous to look at as it is to eat. Another variety is known as “dinosaur eggs”, due to it’s speckled skin and round shape.

Purslane is a leafy, green vegetable / herb that we discovered that day, which was completely new to me. The vendor explained that it can be eaten raw or cooked, much like spinach. My intrepid friend Kim bought a bunch and reports that it wilts rather quickly, so you want to eat it soon after buying. According to a quick search on Google, it turns out that this is a very nutritious vegetable that contains large amounts of Omega-3 fatty acids (good for your brain) and also large amounts of vitamin C. Apparently, many consider this to be a weed when found in the garden, but they are missing out on an underappreciated veggie. A recipe for Cucumber-Purslane-Yogurt Salad can be found here:

http://landscaping.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=landscaping&cdn=homegarden&tm=1033&f=11&su=p284.8.150.ip_&tt=2&bt=0&bts=1&zu=http%3A//starchefs.com/SJohnson/recipe05.html

Other produce to be found at this time of year are okra, corn (of course!), several varieties of melons, tomatoes, strawberries and the list goes on (many are organic).

In addition to fresh fruits and veggies, you can pick up California and imported cheeses, olive oil, balsamic vinegar and homemade jams. There are breads and pastries as well as raw honey. For a relatively small market, there are a wide variety of choices, including ready-to-eat refreshments, such as tamales and roasted corn.

In Seth’s words:
Please stop by the market for fresh, field-ripened, high quality produce from local farmers and spend time with your friends, neighbors and other community members.

The market is located between Avenues 56 & 57 on Marmion Way (1 block west of Figueroa), near the Highland Park Gold Line station. The market is open from 3 - 8 p.m.
See you there. ML


July 10, 2007


Farmer's Market - Help Wanted

Yes, Tuesday is Farmer's Market Day in Highland Park.  But Seth Budick accepted a position in Philadelphia, PA, and I am not quite able to describe veggies (as much as I love them) in Seth's lyrical and sensuous style.

Do take a look at http://www.friends4oldlafarmersmarket.org ( the website Seth created to promote the Farmers Market) 

And please stop by the market for fresh, field-ripened, high quality produce from local farmers and spend time with your friends, neighbors and other community members.

The Highland Park Certified Farmers Market is located adjacent to the Highland Park Gold Line station at Marmion Way between Ave. 57 & 58 and operates Tuesdays from 3-8PM.

Meanwhile, I'm hanging out the "Help Wanted" sign.  If you are a NELA local, and would like to try your hand writing each week about the Old L A Farmer's Market, send me an email!


June 26, 2007


In season at the Old LA (Highland Park) Farmers Market

It's been a great pleasure writing these farmers market updates for the past 1+ years, but unfortunately this one will be my last, as my wife and I move on to the muggy climes of the Northeast. Living in
Southern California, we're blessed with year-round access to an almost outrageous variety of locally grown produce, so I hope that you've been encouraged to sample and appreciate that abundance. In the process, you've supported local family farms, preserved green spaces, and created a vibrant new heart for the community. Any market is precisely as good as the community support that it receives, so help ensure that Northeast Los Angeles has the market that it deserves by continuing to patronize this wonderful neighborhood asset.

This week, that means getting your hands on some of the finest stone fruits in recent memory. The  white apricots available this past week from Uh's Ranch were juicy enough to yield a chin-dribble worthy of the finest peach, along with a luscious perfume and flavor. White nectarines have also been staggeringly good, as have the juicy and sweet-tart plums. The warm, but not overly hot temperatures we've been experiencing have great for many fruits, including the delicious Gaviota strawberries that Tamai farms continues to bring to market. Melons love heat however, and so ZRanch, in the Imperial Valley, has been bringing a wonderful selection to the market, including two varieties of orange fleshed muskmelons, and two green fleshed honeydew type melons, all wonderfully sweet. We also saw our first watermelons from Gama farms this past week, a perfect dessert for your July 4th barbecue.

Take a look at http://www.friends4oldlafarmersmarket.org (for one last week) for a rundown of everything you can expect to find in season at the market. And don't forget to pick up gourmet artisanal cheeses from Uncle Berch and wonderful breads and pastries from Anne's Bakery. If it's too hot to cook, settle down with a juicy piece of herbed rotisseried chicken or a fresh tamale for dinner and just let the warm evening pass you by.

Please stop by the market for fresh, field-ripened, high quality produce from local farmers and spend time with your friends, neighbors and other community members.

The Highland Park Certified Farmers Market is located adjacent to the Highland Park Gold Line station at Marmion Way between Ave. 57 & 58 and operates Tuesdays from 3-8PM.

seth budick


June 19, 2007


In season at the Old LA (Highland Park) Farmers Market

It's not hard to draw an analogy between the early summer farmers market and a Hollywood blockbuster. Instead of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie on the marquee, just imagine peaches and tomatoes and you've got the market stars. With the first beefsteaks of the season arriving last week from Tamai farms, it's no mystery why these fruits bring in the crowds. But no farmers market would be possible without the less glamorous vegetables, the Steve Buscemis of the produce world, like broccoli, spinach and, not least, the humble potato.

Gama Farms reliably brings 4 or 5 varieties of potatoes to the market each week, but faced with all those options, how can you know which one to choose? Well potatoes break down into two main classes, starchy and waxy, with some varieties falling somewhere in between. Gama has one variety of starchy potato, the russet (often called Idaho), which is large, rough skinned and brown. The other varieties, Yukon gold, white round and red round, all have smoother skins and fall towards the waxy end of the spectrum.

Russets, being higher in starch, tend to get rather dry and crumbly on cooking and so are usually recommended for baking, mashing and frying. Waxy varieties are firmer when cooked and hold their shape better, making them a good choice for boiling or roasting. I tested all four varieties in roasting and mashing tests and found that mashed russets did have a much smoother consistency than any of the other three. Russets also have the very distinctive "potatoey" flavor that you're familiar with from restaurant baked potatoes. The waxy varieties all made good mashed potatoes as well however, particularly if you don't mind a few lumps. Among the waxies, the white round has the least assertive flavor, while the Yukon gold and red round are slightly stronger, with the flesh of the Yukons having the particularly pretty color of their namesake metal. For roasting, you can't go wrong with any of the waxy varieties, though I found the Yukon to have the fluffiest interior to complement its crispy crust. You might be surprised to learn that potatoes are very high in vitamin C, dietary fiber and potassium, so don't ignore these important supporting players.

New fruits and vegetables are appearing weekly at the market, including jalapeno and serrano peppers. Take a look at http://www.friends4oldlafarmersmarket.org for a complete list as well as recipe ideas. And pick up fresh breads, cheeses and honey while you're at the market, along with rotisseried chicken, fresh tamales and roasted corn and potatoes for dinner.

Please stop by the market for fresh, field-ripened, high quality produce from local farmers and spend time with your friends, neighbors and other community members.

The Highland Park Certified Farmers Market is located adjacent to the Highland Park Gold Line station at Marmion Way between Ave. 57 & 58 and operates Tuesdays from 3-8PM.

seth budick



June 12, 2007


In season at the Old LA (Highland Park) Farmers Market

I'm not sure that's there's any more refreshing dessert than a bowl of ice cold cherries on a warm summer night, not least because the season is fleeting, one of the shortest of any of our Southern California fruits. You can usually count on cherry season wrapping up by father's day, so don't miss your chance to get some of the last deep red, crisp, and intensely flavorful Bings before they're gone. Fortunately, as cherries ebb at the market, stone fruits; peaches, nectarines, plums and apricots, will pick up the slack. Since our vendors all allow you to sample before you buy, there's no reason to end up with a bunch of mealy peaches as happens all too often with the supermarket variety.

I've been especially fond of Uh's ranch's white nectarines of late, which make an excellent sorbet with the addition of about 5 minutes of labor. Just freeze 4 sliced nectarines (or peaches, or the equivalent
number of strawberries) and then puree them with 5 tbsp. sugar or honey and 1/4C water. Return the puree to the freezer until firm enough to scoop and you'll have a delicious and all natural dessert. Another great way to do something a little different with peaches or nectarines is to brush halved fruits with olive oil and grill for a couple of minutes, just long enough for the fruit to char slightly and heat
through. The high heat will caramelize the sugars making an amazing complement to a scoop of vanilla ice cream, especially when drizzled with a little honey.

Other exciting developments at the market this past week included the return of Ann's Bakery with their scrumptious breads and pastries. The chocolate bread is a personal favorite, especially toasted, with its chocolate oozing over your fingers. Also stop by Uncle Berch for local artisanal cheeses and Energy Bee Honey for wildflower honeys. As always, enjoy fresh tamales, roasted corn and potatoes, and rotisseried chicken for dinner if your appetite overcomes you.

Please stop by the market for fresh, field-ripened, high quality produce from local farmers and spend time with your friends, neighbors and other community members.

The Highland Park Certified Farmers Market is located adjacent to the Highland Park Gold Line station at Marmion Way between Ave. 57 & 58 and operates Tuesdays from 3-8PM.

- Seth Budick


June 05, 2007


In season at the Old LA (Highland Park) Farmers Market

Unlike supermarkets, farmers markets are, by their nature, unpredictable. When your supply chain stretches across the county rather than the hemisphere, you have to expect to be surprised by what our local farmers have coaxed from the ground each week. That's why this past week was particularly exciting, as Gama farms brought beautiful oyster mushrooms to the market for the first time. Even without a fancy recipe and just sauteed with a bit of olive oil and garlic, the fleshy, earthy mushrooms make an absolutely delicious and supremely simple addition to your favorite pasta.

Besides the mushrooms, ZRanch brought sweet honeydew melons to the market for the first time and cherries, sweet corn, artichokes and strawberries all continue to go strong as well. ZRanch's miniature
Indian eggplants called to me last week and ending up with far too many, I improvised a couple of very simple, but delicious recipes that make great simple dinners or side dishes. Toss some 1/2" cubes of eggplant with olive oil and then roast them for 10-15 minutes, until the crispy cubes dissolve into a custardy puddle in your mouth. Toss with either crumbled feta and chopped mint, or a mixture of soy sauce and sugar (2:1) that you've reduced slightly over low heat along with some pressed garlic. Roast 1-2 chopped jalapenos along with the eggplant for a bit of a kick.

Broccoli, spinach, lettuce and too much else to list is also available at the market these days, take a look at http://www.friends4oldlafarmersmarket.org for a complete list as well as recipe ideas and nutritional info. If you can, try to make it to the market early this week and bring the little ones for a performance by the storytelling troupe We Tell Stories. After the show, pick up some roasted corn and potatoes, tamales or rotisseried chicken for dinner.

Please stop by the market for fresh, field-ripened, high quality produce from local farmers and spend time with your friends, neighbors and other community members.

The Highland Park Certified Farmers Market is located adjacent to the Highland Park Gold Line station at Marmion Way between Ave. 57 & 58 and operates Tuesdays from 3-8PM.


May 22, 2007


In season at the Old LA (Highland Park) Farmers Market

By Seth Budick - http://www.friends4oldlafarmersmarket.org -Cross-posted from NelaList:

New items continue to appear weekly at the market as we tiptoe towards early summer. This past week, those included sweet yellow bell peppers, crunchy blue lake green beans, sweet corn and beautiful baby summer squashes from Tamai Farms. ZRanch, our representative from the Imperial Valley, also returned to the market this past week, bringing with them tiny and adorable Indian eggplants as well as artichokes, asparagus and okra. These days you'll find a variety of produce at the market to rival any supermarket, but all grown by local farmers. With cherries, peaches, strawberries, avocados and much more available, don't miss your chance to get all of these fresh and delicious fruits and vegetables this Tuesday afternoon!

While you shop for your fruits and vegetables, pick up local honey, fresh cheeses and fruit preserves and snack on fresh popped kettle corn. You might also be tempted by herbed rotisseried chicken, fresh roasted corn and potatoes, tamales, or honey pineapple chicken. And in two weeks, on June 5th, the market will be hosting the storytelling troupe We Tell Stories, so plan ahead to bring your little ones.

Please stop by the market for fresh, field-ripened, high quality produce from local farmers and spend time with your friends, neighbors and other community members.

The Highland Park Certified Farmers Market is located adjacent to the Highland Park Gold Line station at Marmion Way between Ave. 57 & 58 and operates Tuesdays from 3-8PM.

- Seth Budick


May 15, 2007


In season at the Old LA (Highland Park) Farmers Market

By Seth Budick - http://www.friends4oldlafarmersmarket.org -Cross-posted from NelaList: 

With the steamy temperatures we've been experiencing recently, it seems somewhat less incongruous to spot early summer fruit at the market these days. This past week, Fresno area apricots made their first appearance, joining peaches and cherries to give us a taste of what summer has in store. Since cherry season is one of the shortest of our California fruits, running only for about the next 6 weeks, you won't want to miss your opportunity to indulge in fresh, yellow-red Rainier and deep red Brooks varieties, with Bings arriving shortly. Sweet strawberries from Tamai farms as well as a selection of herbs from Frog Dog Farms worthy of a Simon & Garfunkle song are just a sample of what you'll find at the market these days, so come down and do all your produce shopping for the week.

Snack on kettle corn while you also shop for fresh cheese and fruit preserves or take the night off from cooking and enjoy herbed rotisseried chicken, roasted corn and potatoes, tamales or honey pineapple chicken. And you definitely won't want to miss the market on Tuesday June 5, when the storytelling troupe We Tell Stories will be performing for young and old alike.

Please stop by the market for fresh, field-ripened, high quality produce from local farmers and spend time with your friends, neighbors and other community members.

The Highland Park Certified Farmers Market is located adjacent to the Highland Park Gold Line station at Marmion Way between Ave. 57 & 58 and operates Tuesdays from 3-8PM.

- Seth Budick


May 10, 2007


In season at the Old LA (Highland Park) Farmers Market

Amazingly, the first cherries and peaches of the season have appeared at the market in the last few weeks. Several of our Central Valley growers have managed to coax early Rainier cherries and yellow and white peaches from their orchards, so make sure to come down to the market for these early tastes of summer. Gama farms also brought wonderful green garlic to the market this past week. Garlic fresh out of the ground has a vitality that really sets it apart from the cured heads that you'll find in the supermarket year round, so grab a few and taste the difference for yourself. With late citrus still hanging in there and wonderful strawberries available from Tamai farms, you'll find an amazing variety of produce at the market these days.

In addition to our produce vendors, you can get fresh honey and honey products from Energy Bee Farm as well as cheeses, fruit preserves, olive oils and fresh nuts. And as always, you can pick up a dinner of rotisseried chicken, roasted corn or potatoes, tamales or honey pineapple chicken.

Please stop by the market for fresh, field-ripened, high quality produce from local farmers and spend time with your friends, neighbors and other community members.

The Highland Park Certified Farmers Market is located adjacent to the Highland Park Gold Line station at Marmion Way between Ave. 57 & 58 and operates Tuesdays from 3-8PM.


April 24, 2007


In season at the Old LA (Highland Park) Farmers Market

By Seth Budick - http://www.friends4oldlafarmersmarket.org -Cross-posted from NelaList:

New items at the farmers market this past week included beautiful baby eggplants as well as early season purple and Italian basil from Frog Dog Farms. Walker Farms also brought Fava beans, that short season delicacy, to the market for the first time. Between the wonderful citrus, strawberries, avocados and greens like spinach, broccoli, you should have no problem doing your produce shopping for the week. Take a look at http://www.friends4oldlafarmersmarket.org to see what's in season and plan
your meals for the week.

In addition to fruits and vegetables, you can also treat yourself to the usual assortment of artisanal cheeses, fruit preserves, fresh honey and roasted nuts. Of course dinner at the market is also a treat with tamales, honey-pineapple and rotisseried chicken, and fresh roasted corn and potatoes all available.

Please stop by the market for fresh, field-ripened, high quality produce from local farmers and spend time with your friends, neighbors and other community members.

The Highland Park Certified Farmers Market is located adjacent to the Highland Park Gold Line station at Marmion Way between Ave. 57 & 58 and operates Tuesdays from 3-8PM.


Seth Budick


April 16, 2007


In season at the Old LA (Highland Park) Farmers Market

By Seth Budick - http://www.friends4oldlafarmersmarket.org -Cross-posted from NelaList:

My favorite piece of advice from Michael Pollan's recent article in the New York Times magazine is deceptively simple: "Eat Food." And how does he define food? As anything that your (or someone's) great-great-grandmother would have recognized as such. His point is that rather than buying processed, food-like substances, which have literally had their nutrients leached out and then supplemented in accordance with this week's health fad, it's probably wiser to consume whole, unprocessed, foods. Rather than heeding the health claims on the box of cereal bars, pay attention to traditional diets and their collective wisdom, which generally stress fresh fruits and vegetables, practically the only items at the supermarket that don't boast about their health value, but most deserve to.

Shopping at farmers markets is one of the easiest ways to incorporate this piece of advice into your diet. And with Spring upon us and new items popping up weekly at the market, there's no better time of year. This past week we welcomed Gama Farms back to the market, bringing with them potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams, garlic and onions, as well as free-range organic eggs and a host of delicious citrus. Sidney Spencer also brought loquats to the market for the first time this year, a fruit that you should try if you never have.

One reason people give for not eating more fruits and vegetables is the time and labor of cooking after a long workday. But cooking fresh vegetables need not take any more time than microwaving something from the freezer section. Just try this fast (15 min) recipe for roasted zucchini with tomatoes, garlic and feta featuring Tamai farms' beautiful new emerald colored zucchinis. Slice the zucchini into 1/4" thick rounds along with tomatoes (zucchini:tomato ratio about 1:1) and a few garlic cloves, all cut to about the same thickness. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and roast on a baking pan for 10 minutes, until the zucchini starts to brown. In a bowl, stir crumbled feta into the vegetables and the tomatoes will dissolve into a delicious sauce. With a crusty loaf of bread, you'll have a fantastic dinner in no time. And as basil comes back into season, try throwing in a few chopped leaves along with the feta. For more recipe ideas and a list of what's in season at the market this week, have a look at http://www.friends4oldlafarmersmarket.org.

While you're gathering up your produce for the week, also pick up fresh cheese, fruit preserves, nuts, tamales, roasted corn and potatoes. Grill Masters rotisseried chicken also returned to the market this past week, so fans of their delicious herbed chicken and potatoes should make sure to get down to the market.

Please stop by the market for fresh, field-ripened, high quality produce from local farmers and spend time with your friends, neighbors and other community members.

The Highland Park Certified Farmers Market is located adjacent to the Highland Park Gold Line station at Marmion Way between Ave. 57 & 58 and operates Tuesdays from 3-8PM.

- Seth Budick


April 10, 2007


In season at the Old LA (Highland Park) Farmers Market

By Seth Budick - http://www.friends4oldlafarmersmarket.org -Cross-posted from NelaList:


High on the list of most maligned vegetables, forming perhaps an axis of the inedible along with brussels sprouts and broccoli, is surely the humble pea. Overcooked and mushy, with a lingering taste of the freezer or can betraying its origins, who could be blamed for avoiding this casualty of modern food preservation techniques? Hopefully I'll have an opportunity to tell you soon how farmers market brussels sprouts can be a delicious part of your diet, but in the mean time, I'll happily make the case for peas.

This past week, along with the first artichokes and zucchini of the season, Tamai Farms brought fresh Sugar Snap Peas to the market, giving us all a jolt of Spring. Snap peas are a cross between the flat snow pea and the full bodied English pea, with a an edible pod and kernel. While snap peas are fine raw, in a salad or as a snack, cooking them for just a couple of minutes turns them a vibrant bright green and really lets their flavor and sweetness blossom. After removing their strings, try throwing a few handfuls in a pot of salted boiling water for about 3 minutes, until they're just tender. Drain and toss them with some olive oil, salt to taste, and fresh chopped mint or chives from Frog Dog Farms and you'll understand why, in 17th century England, peas were said to be "both a fashion and a madness." Perhaps more than any other vegetable, the quality of peas declines very quickly after harvesting, so try to eat your fresh picked peas as soon as possible.

Another interesting new item at the market this past week was edible flower petals from Frog Dog Farms, perfect for decorating a cake or other dessert. Excellent citrus, including tangelos and Murcott tangerines continue to abound at the market, as well as three different varieties of strawberries, at last count. Things are really starting to heat up at the market, so take a look at http://www.friends4oldlafarmersmarket.org for a list of what you can expect to find this week, along with recipes and nutritional info. While you're at the market, also stop for fresh cheeses and fruit preserves and snack on kettle corn, tamales, roasted corn and potatoes, and honey pineapple chicken.

Please stop by the market for fresh, field-ripened, high quality produce from local farmers and spend time with your friends, neighbors and other community members.

The Highland Park Certified Farmers Market is located adjacent to the Highland Park Gold Line station at Marmion Way between Ave. 57 & 58 and operates Tuesdays from 3-8PM.


- Seth Budick

March 27, 2007


In season at the Old LA (Highland Park) Farmers Market

By Seth Budick - http://www.friends4oldlafarmersmarket.org -Cross-posted from NelaList:   

Another delicious harbinger of Spring returned to the market this past week in the form of fresh asparagus from Tamai farms. While it's true that asparagus is generally available year round in the supermarket, much of that is flown in from Peru. Since the vibrant flavor of asparagus, like so many other fresh vegetables, declines rapidly after picking, comparing fresh picked spears from Tamai to week-old limp specimens from another hemisphere isn't even fair. In addition to the better taste and enormous fuel savings from getting your asparagus from Oxnard instead of Lima, you'll also benefit from eating one of the most nutritious vegetables around. Asparagus is higher in folic acid than any other vegetable and is also a good source of vitamins C, A, B6 and thiamin. And with no fat or cholesterol and only 4 calories per spear, there's no reason to hold back.

Asparagus is great sprinkled with lemon juice or parmesan after boiling (about 2 minutes, just covered with water, until tender/crisp) or roasting (splashed with olive oil and salt, then 10 minutes in a  broiler). Another tasty possibility is as a constituent of a wonderful pizza along with caramelized onions and goat cheese. For an easy week night dinner, pick up a package of pizza dough at Trader Joe's and while you're rolling out the dough and preheating your oven, caramelize an onion by slicing it thinly and cooking over medium heat for about 25 minutes in 1-2tbsp olive oil, stirring, until the onions take on the amazing dark chewy sweetness that is the miracle of caramelization. Top the pizza with dollops of goat cheese, the onions, and half a bunch of asparagus with the bottom 1-2 inches removed and the spears cut into 1 inch pieces. Bake for about 10 minutes at 450 and you'll be richly rewarded with the appreciation of your dining companions.

Last week I talked about Energy Bee honey, a new vendor at the market. Well Energy Bee will only be at the market every other week, so look for them this Tuesday. For updates on everything else you can expect to find in season at the farmers market, consult http://www.friends4oldlafarmersmarket.org. And as always, pick up fresh cheese, nuts and fruit preserves, as well as kettle corn, tamales, roasted corn and potatoes and honey pineapple chicken. And next week, on April 3rd, come to the market to mark Easter and the beginning of Spring with an Easter Bunny, music and a raffle.

Please stop by the market for fresh, field-ripened, high quality produce from local farmers and spend time with your friends, neighbors and other community members.

The Highland Park Certified Farmers Market is located adjacent to the Highland Park Gold Line station at Marmion Way between Ave. 57 & 58 and operates Tuesdays from 3-7PM.


- Seth Budick


March 20, 2007


In season at the Old LA (Highland Park) Farmers Market

By Seth Budick - http://www.friends4oldlafarmersmarket.org -Cross-posted from NelaList:   

The farmers market welcomed another new, and very local vendor this week: Energy Bee Farm from Inglewood. Energy Bee produces honey from a wide variety of floral sources, including familiar ones like wildflowers and orange blossoms, as well as less common ones like blackberry, eucalyptus and avocado. Energy Bee's insect employees help to pollinate many different farmers' crops, and differences in the flowers' nectar - honey's raw material - give the resulting honeys a diverse range of flavors, so try a few before picking your favorite. The honey has not been processed or filtered in any way, so everything that the bees thought to include is still intact, including the vitamins, minerals, proteins and antioxidants that are present in honey and lacking in other sweeteners.

Also at the market, winter fruits and vegetables continue to go strong, including citrus, strawberries, avocados, lettuce, spinach, broccoli, fresh herbs and too much else to describe here. An updated list of what's in season is always available at http://www.friends4oldlafarmersmarket.org, along with recipes and nutritional information. We also welcomed a kettle corn vendor back to the market this week, so snack while you shop and pick up nuts, fresh cheeses and fruit preserves, or roasted corn and potatoes, fresh tamales and honey pineapple chicken for dinner. And in two weeks, on April 3rd, come to the market to mark Easter and the beginning of Spring with an Easter Bunny, music and a raffle.

Please stop by the market for fresh, field-ripened, high quality produce from local farmers and spend time with your friends, neighbors and other community members.

The Highland Park Certified Farmers Market is located adjacent to the Highland Park Gold Line station at Marmion Way between Ave. 57 & 58 and operates Tuesdays from 3-7PM.


- seth budick


March 13, 2007


In season at the Old LA (Highland Park) Farmers Market

By Seth Budick - http://www.friends4oldlafarmersmarket.org -Cross-posted from NelaList:   

Signs of Spring abounded last week: warm temperatures, daylight savings time, and the return of Tamai Farms to the farmers market, to name a few. Tamai, a small family farm in Oxnard, specializes in strawberries, and the cold weather this winter hasn't helped those delicate fruits, keeping Tamai away from the market the last few months. But these hot days are yielding an early abundance of delicious and juicy Gaviota berries, as well as the crisper Camarosas, ensuring that Tamai will now be back at the market every week. Camarosas dominate commercial strawberry production, but the more delicate Gaviotas are hard to find outside of farmers markets, so please come by the market to welcome Tamai back and enjoy some of their luscious berries.

Tamai also brings cabbages, beets, spinach, lettuce, dill, green onions, broccoli, carrots and radishes to the market, with more to come in the next few weeks. With St. Patrick's day almost upon us, why not use this variety to accompany your corn beef and cabbage with this somewhat less traditional, but easy, delicious, and beautifully green Mexican spinach-cilantro soup? In a large saucepan, saute 1 chopped onion and 4 cloves of garlic until soft in 1-2tbsp of olive oil. Add the washed leaves of 1 bunch of spinach and cover until wilted. Add 4C vegetable broth (Trader Joe's has a good one), 2tsp salt, and simmer for 5 minutes. Puree the soup, along with 1C packed cilantro leaves, 1C milk, 3/4C Mexican crema, and 2 corn tortillas that have been toasted in a skillet or toaster oven. Without boiling it, warm the soup before serving, garnished with a dollop of crema on top and a pint of Guinness on the side to complete your cross-cultural feast.

Other new items at the market last week included chervil from FrogDog Farms, and Jan will hopefully have sorrel this Tuesday as well. For a complete list of what's in season at the market, along with recipes and nutritional information, take a look at http://www.friends4oldlafarmersmarket.org. While you're at the market, also pick up fresh cheese, fruit preserves and nuts, as well as fresh roasted corn and potatoes, tamales, and honey pineapple chicken.

Please stop by the market for fresh, field-ripened, high quality produce from local farmers and spend time with your friends, neighbors and other community members.

The Highland Park Certified Farmers Market is located adjacent to the Highland Park Gold Line station at Marmion Way between Ave. 57 & 58 and operates Tuesdays from 3-7PM.

- Seth Budick


March 06, 2007


In season at the Old LA (Highland Park) Farmers Market

By Seth Budick - http://www.friends4oldlafarmersmarket.org -Cross-posted from NelaList: 

Citrus, including delicious Satsuma and Paige tangerines, continues to dominate the farmers  market. Do your part to battle scurvy by enjoying pomelos, grapefruits, oranges, cara-caras, blood oranges, Meyer lemons, kumquats and tangelos. Fresh herbs, apples, asian pears, cherimoyas and other winter fruits are also all available at the market, consult http://www.friends4oldlafarmersmarket.org for a full list.

In addition to the excellent avocados and citrus that Spencer Farms brings to the market each week, Pancho was also selling the unusual chilacayote squash this past week. Native to Central and South America, chilacayotes, also known as Malabar gourds or shark-fin melons, come somewhere between a cucumber and watermelon in flavor and have the texture of spaghetti squash as the pulp separates into its component strands when cooked. I've been experimenting with chilacayotes, which are often used in soups, candied, or made into jams, and I would love to hear from anyone with a secret family recipe. Comment here and share your chilacoyote delicacies with the world! And while you're at the market, pick up fresh nuts, cheese and fruit preserves and enjoy fresh tamales and honey  pineapple chicken for dinner.

Please stop by the market for fresh, field-ripened, high quality produce from local farmers and spend time with your friends, neighbors and other community members.

The Highland Park Certified Farmers Market is located adjacent to the Highland Park Gold Line station at Marmion Way between Ave. 57 & 58 and operates Tuesdays from 3-7PM.

- Seth Budick


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