Urgent: Save The Hollywood Farmers’ Market - Los Angeles Urban Agriculture | Examiner.com

Here's the latest on the Hollywood Farmers' Market, this is from my Los Angeles Urban Agriculture Examiner page:

Urgent: Save The Hollywood Farmers’ Market - Los Angeles Urban Agriculture Examiner.com

Help Save The Hollywood Farmers' Market!

In case you hadn't heard, the Sunday Hollywood Farmer's Market is in danger. One of the largest farmers' markets in Los Angeles County, this 20-year old market is faced with the prospect of either shrinking in size or possibly closing altogether due to a conflict with a nearby business over parking.

The LA Film School petitioned the city to "move" the market away from their parking lot, which is located on Ivar Avenue between Sunset Blvd and Selma Ave.

According to KTLA News, "That means approximately 150 vendors who sell their own products every Sunday will be displaced. Vendors will lose the more than $130,000 in income that is generated every Sunday.

And with the loss of that income, 7 other smaller farmers' markets in low income areas like Watts, Crenshaw, South Central, Echo Park, East Hollywood and Atwater Village that are supported by the Hollywood Farmers' Market could also be forced to close."

The market is run by the non-profit SEE-LA, which has not only started all of these other markets, but created the Hollywood Farmer's Kitchen.

Yesterday at the market, SEE-LA gathered thousands of signatures showing the community's support. However, if you didn't get the chance to sign their petition, and want to show your support and be kept informed of what's going on with this issue, send them an email at:  info@farmernet.com to show your support.

Also, make sure to "like" the Protect the Hollywood Farmers Market Facebook page.

There is a meeting scheduled for later today between market staff and the City. Hopefully they will be able to work out a way to keep this fresh food oasis that is one of the only sources of fresh, local food in the community.

Happy National Farm-City Week

This week, millions of Americans will gather around the Thanksgiving table with family and friends enjoying the harvest from the most bountiful food source in the world. But, did you know that this week (November 19-26) is also National Farm-City Week? A week designed by the National Farm City Council to highlight the important roles that urban and rural partnerships play in food and fiber production.

Did you know that the state of California produces more than 50% of the nation’s fresh fruit, vegetables and nuts? And, it does this using just 3% of the nation’s farmland. California farmers and ranchers produce nearly $30 billion a year, support over 1.1 million jobs, and is the top agricultural state, a position it’s held for more than 55 years.

For most people the answer to these questions is no. That’s because there are usually no big, headlining agricultural stories in the media. There is no constant coverage on the fact that thanks to California, we have the safest, most affordable food supply system in the world.

What about the people who grow your food, fiber and flowers? It might surprise you to know that California is still dominated by family and small run farms. Approximately 97% of California farms are run as family farms or partnerships.

If farm issues are covered on the news, most stories usually cast a negative light on farmers. However, many of our farmers practice sustainable agriculture and work towards preserving our natural resources, protecting the environment, and conserving water. They are the largest stewards of our land and are working to preserve what little open space is left.

But each year, their very existence is jeopardized by the unchecked growth of development, competition and dominance by large corporate farms, over-regulation at the state and federal level, and the apparent lack of concern for their survival by the general public.

American Farmland Trust says that every minute of every day, America loses two acres of farmland.

Maybe you think that because you live in Los Angeles you are so far removed from agriculture that it doesn’t affect you. Have you ever stopped to count the number of times during the day that agriculture touches your life? From the time you crawl out of the cotton sheets on your bed in the morning, to the time you brush your teeth at night; agriculture is there. If you use products like paper, shampoo, crayons, buttons, and shoes, then you are affected by agriculture.

You might also think that in Los Angeles County we don’t even produce agricultural products anymore. In 2006 (latest report available), L.A. County had 16 million dollar commodities including ornamental trees and shrubs, bedding plants, root vegetables, herbs, apples, strawberries, and grapes.

As you sit down at the table this Thanksgiving and give thanks for all of the good in your life, take the opportunity to thank our farmers. Remember: agriculture is part of our lives, so we must help to protect it.

You can make a difference by asking where your food is grown, who grew it, and when and how it was grown. Shop at your local farmers’ market; look for Buy Local campaigns at your local market, showing that the food was made in California.

Dont Miss It: LA Farm Girl Book Signing

Did you know that:

• Gardena was once known as the Strawberry Capital of the World?
• Redondo Beach was once known as Carnation City?
• There were still a dozen dairies in Torrance until the mid-1960s?
• The Palos Verdes Peninsula was once one of the largest producing areas of garbanzo beans?

All of this and more is true, and are just some of the great things I discovered while researching my book, "Farming In Torrance And The South Bay." If you are interested in this fascinating history and want to learn more, come to a book signing this weekend in Torrance.

Here's the details:

Date: Saturday, November 20, 2010
Time: 1 to 3 p.m.
Location: Costco - Torrance, 2751 Skypark Drive, Torrance, CA

Forneris Farms Harvest Festival Starts This Weekend!

Since it is already October, Halloween will be here before you know it. That means it is time to go and pick-your-own pumpkin. Instead of going to that parking lot pumpkin patch next to your supermarket, why not go to a real farm and have a great day of fun and support a great local LA farmer?  

Yep, a "real" LA farmer, imagine that! Forneris Farms is one of only two "traditional" farms left in the San Fernando Valley---John Forneris has been farming in Mission Hills for the past 45 years!

Not only can you pick-your-own pumpkin, but during Harvest Festival time there's great activities for the whole family including a tractor-pulled train ride, a "farm frolic" area with kid's games, farm animals, antique tractors and cars, and on weekends there's food and entertainment. They also have an awesome corn maze with over 4 acres of turns to get lost in. And, of course their farm market is always open and features farm fresh produce year-round.

Follow them on Twitter and like them on Facebook

Let's show John and Barbara that we support them and appreciate that they are here providing us with locally, grown, farm fresh produce and a great on-farm experience for the whole family!

LA Farm Girl Post on UC ANR Los Angeles Agriculture Blog

My first post for the wonderful Rachel Surls' UC Los Angeles Agriculture blog is now live!

These blog posts are part of the book we are working on together all about Los Angeles agriculture both past and present.

The post is part one, about how Los Angeles became the wine growing capital of California in the mid-1800s.

Also, there's a great post from Rachel Surls all about Self-Help Cooperatives of the 1930s and how, during the depression people bartered for goods, including harvesting farmers' crops for a share of the harvest!

Meet LA Farm Girl at Food Rendezvous

I have been busily working on many things, including my next book, that I have neglected my own blog!

But....I just wanted to post a reminder about the first ever "Food Rendezvous," kicking off tomorrow in Venice. This is a new monthly gathering and hopefully people will keep coming back for more!

Here's the details on Food Rendezvous:

August 28, 2010, 4 - 10 PM

Location: SPARC, historic 1920s police station/jail house and its adjoining parking lots Venice, 685 Venice Blvd.

$10

Featuring:

•Delicious food from emerging local artisans

•Creative chefs’ demos

•Cookbook swap

•Fun cooking contests

•Inspiring food movies

•Tasty live music

• Jam Making Contest

Local food authors, including yours truly!

I will at the Writer's Table tomorrow from 4 to 5 p.m. right when the event kicks off. Come and learn all about our rich farm history in the South Bay and LA area, and hear how both Venice and Lomita claimed to be the "Celery Capital" of So Cal!!!

"Farming in Torrance And The South Bay" by Judith Gerber