Health-conscious shoppers found a bounty of in-season berries, avocados, clementines and oranges, carrots, cucumbers, lettuces and snap peas on Saturday at the bustling Main Street Canoga Park Farmers Market on Owensmouth Avenue.
The market is open 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturdays, rain or shine. And it accepts both EBT (www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/ebt) and WIC (myfamily.wic.ca.gov/WAFL/Home).
“The Main Street Canoga Park Farmers Market was initiated by the (city’s) Community Redevelopment Agency, but when they left there were not any funds to promote it and pay a management company,” wrote Mary Paterson, executive director of the Canoga Park Improvement Association, in an email.
“So our community reached out to the managers of the Northridge market (Coastal Pacific Farmers Markets) who were willing to take it on for no fee. Since COVID, they have been working to rebuild the market to its former glory.”
In addition to fruits and vegetables, the market has an egg vendor, fresh orange juice — described as “amazing” — and vendors selling items such as aguas frescas, hummus and pita bread, jams and jellies.
Saturday shoppers may also find handcrafted jewelry, candles and soaps for sale while enjoying acoustic music by local musicians.
“This little market is definitely a well kept secret that we want to let out. Farmers’ markets are known to help foster good health and help the local economy,” Paterson wrote. “We just need to get to the word out that we are open and to remind local organizations that this market is like an artist’s pallet that can be crafted into something really beautiful.”
The market “hops,” said Paterson, when special events coincide with market days like the Canoga Park’s St. Patrick’s Day Community March and Celebration, Memorial Day weekend, the Art Walk, the Día de Los Muertos Family Festival, and the Child Development Institute Health and Safety Fair.
Location: 7248 Owensmouth Ave., between Sherman Way and Wyandotte Avenue, Canoga Park. www.facebook.com/canogafarmersmarket/
Information about the Canoga Park Improvement Association: www.facebook.com/CPIA.LA
The network of Coastal Pacific Farmers Markets: coastalpacificmarkets.com
For a list of certified farmers markets, by county, in California (Jan. 3, 2023): www.cdfa.ca.gov/is/docs/CurrentMrktsCounty.pdf