FARM FRESH; ENCINO MARKET TURNS 4.Byline: Eric Wahlgren Daily News Staff Writer The Encino Farmers' Market farm·ers' market n. A public market at which farmers and often other vendors sell produce directly to consumers. Also called greenmarket. hasn't just thrived since its founding four years ago. It has become a community institution. The weekly produce market even has its own mascot, Bruce, a plucky pluck·y adj. pluck·i·er, pluck·i·est Having or showing courage and spirit in trying circumstances. See Synonyms at brave. pluck rooster rooster its crowing at dawn heralds each new day. [Western Folklore: Leach, 329] See : Dawn rooster symbol of maleness. [Folklore: Binder, 85] See : Virility who crows every 10 minutes or so, prompting shoppers to return the call in kind. In a sign of its continuing popularity, dozens of other early birds thronged the market's entrance on its fourth anniversary Sunday. Eager to get the best pick of fruits and veggies Veggies of Nottingham, also known as Veggies Catering Campaign, is a campaigning group based in Nottingham, England, promoting ethicalbum alternatives to mainstream fast food. , they lined up before the 8 a.m. opening. ``I feel I am getting more here for my money than at a supermarket,'' said Darilyn Schmidt, a regular from Encino who came with her own shopping bags. ``This stuff comes directly from a farm.'' Launched by a senior citizen organization in 1994, the Encino Farmers' Market marked its anniversary Sunday with a cake-cutting ceremony and special activities. Although the outdoor market is one of about 40 such venues in the Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. area, it has become a must-go destination for many food-conscious San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. residents, drawing more than 3,000 shoppers every week. ``It was a chance to give seniors in the Valley a (place) to volunteer at the market and to give people an opportunity to buy quality produce at a reasonable cost,'' said Jane Allen, the market manager. The Organization for the Needs of the Elderly, based in Van Nuys, provides volunteers who work at the market, along with the vendors. The organization's share of profits goes into Meals on Wheels n. 1. A program that delivers hot meals to persons, such as the elderly or disabled, who are confined to their homes and unable to cook for themselves; also, the meals thus delivered. Such programs are usually conducted by governmental or charitable organizations. and other programs for the elderly. ``When we started, we were drawing less than 1,000 people a day,'' said Harry Vickman, a member of the organization's board. ``Now we don't have enough spaces in the parking lot.'' Despite its growth - with produce from more than 35 growers, as well as arts and crafts arts and crafts, term for that general field of applied design in which hand fabrication is dominant. The term was coined in England in the late 19th cent. as a label for the then-current movement directed toward the revivifying of the decorative arts. from 30 vendors - the market has remained an earthy, down-home affair. Art Lang, who peddles vine-ripened peaches, plums and other fruit grown on his 15-acre ranch near Fresno, asks his customers to put their money into a box and make their own change. He is too busy passing out samples to be bothered with pesky financial transactions. ``I trust all my customers,'' Lang said. ``They must trust me because they keep coming back.'' In front of Lang's stand, shoppers buzz past toting bags laden with food for the discriminating palate, including purple asparagus and haricots verts Noun 1. haricots verts - very small and slender green bean French bean, haricot vert green bean - immature bean pod eaten as a vegetable . ``There are few places where you can get all of this stuff so fresh,'' said Grant Pelphrey, a regular customer from Reseda. CAPTION(S): 2 Photos PHOTO (1--2) A vendor shows fresh baby zucchini, right, while Mary Black, below right, shops for lettuce at the Encino Farmers' Market. The weekly market's fourth anniversary was observed Sunday. David Sprague/Daily News |
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