The coming of fall brings about a delicious and wonderful plethora of harvests. This includes produce such as: pomegranates, figs, squash, pumpkins, garlic sweet potatoes, cauliflower, corn, mushrooms, Swiss chard, and much more. This is the perfect time to visit your local farmers market. What is a farmer’s market you say? Why it’s the best place to purchase locally grown and raised fruits, vegetables, meat, eggs, prepared foods and soaps. They are certified organic and sold at wholesale rates. They are able to sell their products wholesale because the packaging process is eliminated.
Here in the West San Fernando Valley, for being such a small, tight-knit community, one would not expect the number of daily certified farmer’s markets that exist here. Being formally being a region solely consisted of orange groves, it should be naturally expected.
Here is a listing of the farmer’s markets located in the area separated by day, beginning with those occurring on Sunday:
• Pierce College, open daily 20800 Victory Blvd, Woodland Hills
• Encino, Sundays 8am – 1pm, Victory Blvd. at White Oak Ave.
• Tarzana, Sundays 8am – noon 19130 Ventura Blvd.,
• Studio City, Sundays 8am – 1pm, 12000 Ventura Place
• Calabasas, Saturdays 8am – 1pm, Calabasas at Mulholland Dr.
• Chatsworth, Saturdays 9am – 1pm, Devonshire St. at Canoga Ave.
• Woodland Hills, Saturdays 8am – 4pm, 6200 Block of Topanga Canyon Blvd.
If you live near Woodland Hills or do not mind taking the drive, you are in for a real treat. Located at 21821 Ventura Blvd, Henry’s Market is the epitome of Certified Farmer’s Markets. It doesn’t get any better than to have a grocery store full of certified locally grown produce and green products. The prices are even better than that of the smaller farmer’s markets. It is always a treat to stop in and discover new items.
Two weeks ago, I stopped in and they had pineapples 99 cents each. My first reaction was, “Are they crazy? Pineapples in the fall?” I saw another woman with a basket full of them so I figured there had to be a good reason why she was purchasing so many. So I figured what the heck and I gambled on one. Boy did I hit the jackpot. It was the best pineapple I had ever tasted in my life. I made me feel like I was on a beach in Hawaii. It was so juicy and sweet. I went back to purchase more and unfortunately they were all sold out.
So the next time you are going grocery shopping, make sure to stop by your local farmers market. It is well worth it.
