FARMERS MARKET DEBUTS RESIDENTS HUNGRY FOR FRESHER PRODUCE.Byline: Brent Hopkins Staff Writer PANORAMA CITY - As salsa music Salsa music or "salsa" is a Latin music generic/umbrella term developed in New York City specifically during the 1970s that was used to describe mainly Afro-Cuban popular Latin dance music generally utilizing rhythms from Cuba, particularly son and guaracha. blares through the air, shoppers stroll among fresh strawberries and eight-ball squash. Thick chilacayote, squash the size of watermelons picked the day before, sit on fold-out tables. Eggplant, vivid purple, costs $1 a pound. Vendors fill up bags of plump tomatoes, calling out the price in English and Spanish. The farmers have come to hawk their produce, while shoppers sample fruits and vegetables fresh off the truck. The scene could be in Mexico City Mexico City Spanish Ciudad de México City (pop., 2000: city, 8,605,239; 2003 metro. area est., 18,660,000), capital of Mexico. Located at an elevation of 7,350 ft (2,240 m), it is officially coterminous with the Federal District, which occupies 571 sq mi ; it could be in Encino. Though normally found in upscale areas, the recently launched Panorama City Farmers Market fits in well in a working class neighborhood. ``This is the first time I've seen something like this here,'' said Gloria Campos, a 36-year-old factory worker from North Hills, speaking in her native Spanish. ``It's great to see the fresh fruit and vegetables. By the time they get to the grocery store, they're all old and worn out.'' Though the Southland Farmers' Market farm·ers' market n. A public market at which farmers and often other vendors sell produce directly to consumers. Also called greenmarket. Association recognizes 90 such gatherings, the closest ones to the Northeast 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. sit miles away in Encino and North Hollywood. To bring low-priced fresh food to the often-overlooked community, the Valley Economic Development Center and Agora agora (ăg`ərə) [Gr.,=market], in ancient Greece, the public square or marketplace of a city. In early Greek history the agora was primarily used as a place for public assembly; later it functioned mainly as a center of commerce. Realty partnered to create a weekly market on Friday evenings from 4 to 8 o'clock at Agora's Plaza del Valle. The market, held on Van Nuys Boulevard between Chase and Parthenia streets, gives growers another commercial outlet, brings shoppers into Agora's center and lets locals have access to food normally not sold in their part of town. ``Everyone wants fresh produce - it's not a rich thing or a poor thing,'' said Scott Beylik, a grower from Fillmore who's selling tomatoes, cucumbers and squash. ``You wouldn't see super-expensive organic food or pesto here, but I guarantee when the chiles and peppers come in, they'll sell real well.'' He was doing a brisk business in tomatoes on a recent Friday, but little cash was changing hands. Vendors at the market accept vouchers from the Women, Infants and Children Program, funded by both the state and federal government. Under a little-publicized provision of WIC WIC - WAN Interface Card , recipients get a $20 monthly allowance earmarked for use specifically in farmers markets. Prior to the Panorama City market, residents' closest shopping options were the weekend markets in North Hollywood, Encino and Northridge's Wednesday sale. ``Why is it only higher-income communities deserve organic food?'' said Roberto Barragan, president of the VEDC VEDC Valley Economic Development Center (Los Angeles, CA, USA) . ``Low- and moderate-income communities deserve everything that everyone else has.'' The nonprofit business group, working on a two-year grant of $450,000 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Noun 1. Department of Health and Human Services - the United States federal department that administers all federal programs dealing with health and welfare; created in 1979 Health and Human Services, HHS and the Ford Foundation-funded Project for Public Spaces Project for Public Spaces (PPS) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating and sustaining public places that build communities. Planning and design rooted in the community forms the cornerstone of PPS’s philosophy. Building on the techniques of William H. , hopes the project will become self-sustaining within six months. In addition to the produce sales, VEDC hopes to add sales kiosks for local vendors to start businesses at the market, aiming to create up to 70 new jobs. If successful, the market project will expand to other areas in the Valley. ``It's not the same at the supermarket,'' said Gela Cruz, a 41-year-old stay-at-home mom from Panorama City. ``You go out with your kids, see your friends. And the food's healthier, too. It's nice. You feel like you're off on a ranch out in the country, not here in the city anymore.'' Brent Hopkins, (818) 713-3738 brent.hopkins(at)dailynews.com IF YOU GO WHAT: Panorama City Farmers Market WHEN: Fridays, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. WHERE: Plaza del Valle, 8700 Van Nuys Blvd. CAPTION(S): 3 photos, box, map Photo: (1 -- color) Green beans green beans Noun, pl long narrow green beans that are cooked and eaten as a vegetable are sold at the Panorama City farmers market, which is held each Friday at the Plaza del Valle center. (2 -- color) Carrots, fresh ones, are among the produce on sale each Friday at the Panorama City farmers market. (3 -- color) Vendors selling a variety of produce and other goods are open to shoppers at the Panorama City farmers market, held every Friday at the Plaza del Valle shopping center shopping center, a concentration of retail, service, and entertainment enterprises designed to serve the surrounding region. The modern shopping center differs from its antecedents—bazaars and marketplaces—in that the shops are usually amalgamated into on Van Nuys Boulevard. Evan Yee/Staff Photographer Box: IF YOU GO (see text) Map: Farmers Market Daily News |
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