F4tF: Los Angeles Adventure, Pt. 2 – The Santa Monica Farmer’s Market
Last week’s introductory post, F4tF: Los Angeles Adventure, Pt. 1 – The Neville Brothers @ Hollywood Bowl started out my recollection of my recent first trip to Los Angeles where I had the opportunity to see some wonderful places as I was staying with an old friend who is a private chef and showed me all of the markets and local places to check out. Since last week’s story took place on the Wednesday evening of my week-long trip I thought I’d share with you what I did earlier in the day.
We went to the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market
The Wednesday market has been around since 1981. Here is the history of the market from its website:
The Wednesday Market opened in Santa Monica’s downtown retail district with the modest goals of providing reasonably priced, high quality produce to the city’s population, and bringing more foot traffic into the area. The market met with instant success in its first year. Now, more than twenty years later, it’s widely recognized as one of the largest and most diverse grower-only CFM’s in the state. Some nine thousands food shoppers every week, and many of Los Angeles’ best known chefs and restaurants, are keyed to the seasonal rhythms of the Wednesday Market. It’s hardly an exaggeration to say, at mid-week in the heart of the city the mother of markets comes to town. Whether you’re looking for a common, exotic or experimental variety of fruit or vegetable, this market is a treasure trove of agricultural diversity.
That last line about the market being a “treasure trove of agricultural diversity is so true.” Upon our entry, one of the first things I wanted to try was fresh squeezed orange and grapefruit juices. I found two separate vendors. Some of the best juice I have had in a long time. First stop was for Valencia Orange Juice from Polito Family Farms. Refreshing doesn’t even begin to describe the taste of locally grown and squeezed oranges juice.
READ ON for more of this week’s Friday For the Foodies…
After walking around I came upon another juice vendor, Bernard Ranches. This time I went for the grapefruit instead. This is a small, family run company that uses no pesticides. Their slogan is “we grow what we sell”. This is true farm to table product. Again, the freshness of the juice and the surprising slight sweetness were a treat for the taste buds. Said on their sign they only attend eight farmer’s markets a year. Glad I got to catch them at one of them.
The produce at the market was colorful, and bountiful. Here are some of the food pictures I shot that day
There were lots of people out and about in the market yet it never seemed too crowded. Here are some different shots from around the market that day:
The most unique product I saw that day that I had never seen before? The Hemp Seed Pesto from Basiltops. Their motto is “from seed to sauce”. Tasted real good too…
More LA to come next week.
Have a great and safe Labor Day Weekend everyone!
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