Stevie St. John
Farmers Market: Los Feliz Village certified farmers market.
When: Sundays, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Where: Los Feliz Post Office, 1825 N. Vermont Ave. (Vermont & Franklin), Los Feliz.
What: A pocket-sized farmers market with walkable neighborhood charm.
Who Sells Here: Among the vendors are Lorea Farm & Fresh Farm (produce); La Bahn Ranch (eggs); Brothers Products (hummus, dips and pita chips/bread); Me Gusta Gourmet Tamales (tasting contest winner of the 2013 Oxnard Tamale Festival); Rocchio Family Roasters (coffee); and Mami Jolly (jam).
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the Los Feliz farmers market; Credit: Stevie St. John
Who Buys Here: Locals. Most shoppers arrive on foot. With its limited selection, this market isn't likely to lure people from outside the immediate area. But for those within walking distance, it's a friendly neighborhood market.
Go To Get: Berries, mushrooms, hummus, a few fresh veggies or a bouquet. The fruit, hummus and flowers are customer favorites.
While You're There: Check out hats, scarves, jewelry and handmade soaps. Grab a cup of coffee, a pastry, some honey or some jam. Or buy brunch at the Gastrobus food truck.
Nestled in the walkable Los Feliz Village – near popular spots such as Bru, the Dresden and House of Pies – this market springs up each Sunday in the post office parking lot. Only about 25 booths are wedged into the small space, but manager Helen Lee, a Los Feliz-area native, notes that their wares are diverse. (The Helen Lee Foundation runs the five-year-old market, which started in the Dresden's parking lot and moved to its current location four years ago.)
Near the entrance is a large flower stand. Beyond it lie a couple of large produce booths as well as vendors with strawberries, blueberries and blackberries. Besides fresh vegetables, shoppers can find prepared foods such as jars of honey and jam, tubs of hummus and garlic dip, and muffins and Danishes. And they all get served up with a smile.
“We're probably known for having the nicest vendors,” said Lee, who notes that Yelp reviewers often remark on this. Likewise, many vendors count it as a favorite market. They say the patrons, too, give off a friendly vibe.
“It's by leaps and bounds my favorite market,” says Marco Rocchio, owner and head roaster of the Manhattan Beach-based Rocchio Family Roasters.
This market probably isn't the place to go to fill your pantry. But if you've stocked up on staples and just need a few fresh ingredients, lace up your sneaks and head to this little neighborhood gem.
See also: The Ultimate L.A. Farmers Market Guide + Google Map!
Stevie St. John is a freelance writer and the editor of the LGBTQ site www.SpectrumLosAngeles.com. Follow her on Twitter at @stevielynnette. Want more Squid Ink? Follow us on Twitter or like us on Facebook.
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