To Market, To Market, To Buy a Fat Pig...

Usually every Thursday finds me at the local farmer's market, shopping list in one hand and precious cash in the other, ready to make sure our kitchen counters and refrigerator bulges with fresh fruits and vegetables. In an era of supermarkets, superwarehouses, chains, and increasing globalization, it's nice to be able to have the option to buy directly from farmers and other growers directly, ensuring that the produce is as fresh as possible short of growing it ourselves.

This was my Thursday routine until March. Mid-March I went to our local market as usual, only to discover that our local market was being shut down almost immediately (just two week's time) due to construction right next door. This project was a controversial one, opposed by a local homeowner's association, and engendered quite a bit of controversy. Regardless, the project was approved and construction began last year.

I had mixed feelings, because while I felt that the market should be allowed to continue (it had a street permit closure until June 2007 for its-then-current spot, which was pulled by the area's city councilman, Jack Weiss), I also agreed that the market's managers knew that they would need to relocate, and had known for quite some time. I felt Weiss and the developers were pulling the rug out too fast, but I also felt the market managers needed to be more proactive in planning the future of the market and its location. The construction project hadn't yet really reached street level (the basement level of the future buildings were being dug out and a foundation laid, beams erected, etc., etc.), and I didn't see a real need to close the market just yet.

One of the explanations ostensibly offered for the need to close the market was the looming presence of "large trucks" and construction equipment. Well, the market closed two weeks later, on the last week of March. It's now early July, and I have driven through and around that area often since, and there are no "large trucks" whatsoever. The street where the market was located hasn't been closed at all as of last week. I still think the market's managers had a fair amount of time with which to explore options, but I am unhappy with Weiss' decision to push the market out, given that one of the key claims for moving the market turned out to be untrue.

Without a local market, I explored other area markets, such as Beverly Hills, which we had previously frequented, the West L.A. Market (which turned out to be hugely disappointing), and the famed Santa Monica Farmer's Market (Champ! But a five-mile drive, plus searching for parking in popular Santa Monica? Ummm...). We haven't yet been to the Brentwood Farmer's Market, but plan to do so. I returned to the Century City Farmer's Market, which I had previously bypassed in favor of Westwood's, and found that I liked it. So a new routine on Thursdays began: off to Century City for fruits and veggies...

Well, it was announced earlier this week in the back of the L.A. Times' Food section that the market would be re-opening at a different location, and West L.A. Online also had a similar announcement. I checked the Westwood Farmer's Market website for additional details; originally it had had lots of information on the closure of the market, who to contact to protest closure, etc., but now there is nothing on there except this sentence: "Thank you Market Supporters!"

I decided to hedge my bets: I'd shop at Century City, then go to Westwood afterwards to check it out. I found the new Westwood site to have some advantages over the old-- parking was better, and was free (parking is in the Getty Museum overflow lot); there was space for the same number of stalls and vendors, if not more; the food area was separate, and had more seating available than previously; and finally, last but not least, the new location is at the Vet's Garden at the VA site, just off of Sepulveda and Constitution. One of the stalls belonged to the Vet's Garden, which offered plums, among other items. Flowers were also offered for sale by the veterans as well.

The disadvantage is that previously, UCLA students, doctors, med students, and residents from UCLA Medical Center, and others who don't drive or have easy access to cars could walk from campus or nearby apartments and public transportation to the market. I highly doubt they're going to go to the new location. Another problem is the market was previously highly visible, and now it is hidden, and only a few wooden handpainted signs direct shoppers to the new locale. A more serious problem is the lack of publicity. While the L.A. Times' mention was great, it was buried in the back of the Food section, which not everyone reads. Additionally, the market's website has seemingly been abandoned, and needs serious updating. Another drawback is four months have passed-- a lot of people, including me, have adjusted to new shopping patterns, and may not be easily lured back to the Westwood market.

There were a couple of familiar booths/vendors, while a few new ones had joined as well. It's still the first week, so I'm going to give the new location a chance for a month or so, before I decide whether to make it my primary farmer's market. In the meantime, I'll continue at Century City, supplemented by occasional visits to Beverly Hills and Santa Monica. Gotta get those cherries before they disappear...