The Neighborhood News Online

Wellington Square Farmers Market a BIG HIT!!

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Category: Community News

Published on Tuesday, 06 April 2010 00:01

Written by Dianne Lawrence

I was so excited about the opening of the Wellington Square Certified Farmers Market, I put on my Sunday best and my finest jewlery! I wasn’t disappointed. The atmosphere was festive and exciting as neighbors from communities throughout the 10th district converged, meeted, greeted, gossiped, laughed, smiled and most importantly, bought. The produce was excellent, inexpensive, fresh, the baked goods utterly heavenly, the prepared foods delicious and people strolled around with bouquets of fresh flowers. There was a wonderful potter with beautiful and inexpensive jugs and vases, Mid City Neighborhood Council (MINC) had a table set up to educate people about their activites. The Neighborhood News handed out copies and gathered compliments right and left.

There is no meat or coffee (Smyrna Church does not allow) but no worries. The market is exactly half way between The Atomic and  Eureka Cafes for lunch or breakfast before or after shopping, and they are offering free coffee with meals for Smyrna shoppers.
Organizer Lora Davis  reports:
“Our opening day was a complete success. The farmers and other vendors did a great job and are happy to be part of our market.  One of the farmers said to me, “I like the energy here. It’s not hectic and rushed like at other markets. I enjoy talking to the customers.” The volunteers went above and beyond to make sure every detail was taken care of from dog watching, to parking cars, to playing music and even sitting down on the ground to play with the children that attended the market with their parents. And best of all, every volunteer reported how each attendee they met, whether coming or leaving with bags full of fresh produce, thanked them profusely for helping to bring this wonderful farmers market to their community. Their appreciation and joy in participating in the market made all the hard work worthwhile.”
Gratitude to Smyrna Seventh-day Adventist Church for providing the space and kudo’s to Lora Davis and Kathy Lewis for organizing this wonderful, well run, community service.
SUNDAYS 9-1  Smyrna lot  Washington Bvld. w. of Crenshaw

Report From Allan DiCastro
Our Certified Farmer's Market is really quite special.

Being "Certified" assures us that all goods are super fresh. But we also have some really unique...sometimes exotic  items are being sold there too.....right here in the MINC area!!

Cara Cara Oranges: They are believed to be a mutation discovered in 1976 at the Hacienda de Cara Cara in Valencia, Venezuela. They did not enter US marketplace until late 1980's. Their flavor evokes cherry, rose petal and blackberry. It is sweet and low in acid. They are currently $1.50 per pound at Farmer's Market. Delicious.

Pomelo: is a large citrus fruit which is native to Southeast Asia. often called the Chinese grapefruit. It can be eaten like a grapefruit although it's taste is completely different. It's sweet and has very little to no bitterness. I am totally hooked on these.

Pink lady apples: originated in Western Australia. They are named for the pink hue they carry. They have been grown in the US for only about 20 years. Their flavor is described as refreshing, sweet and champagne like in taste. Actually, they do remind of champagne a tiny bit.

Flowers: I have tried several. They are so fresh that they last at least a week.
(I do trim ends and change water every 3 days.)

My favorite for it's very strong, long lasting beautiful scent are the tuber roses. Just a few stems of them dispersed around house leave a terrific smell throughout...for at least a week!

Much more to rave about but I will stop here to say that there honestly has not been a disappointment found yet in the items sold here. (I have also tried pungent radishes, many juicy berries, fresh garlic, great red onion, delicious farm fresh eggs, the best honey ever and various fantastic baked goods, etc, etc, etc!!)

So come on out and embark on the exploration of it soon...and often.

p.s. I am told the arrival of PEACHES is about a month away as is farm fresh CORN!
****************************************************************************Farmer's Market is every Sunday from 9am to 1pm  at Wellington and WA Blvd....that is just a few blocks west of Crenshaw. There is plenty of street parking on WA Blvd!

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