Tom Brewer is a member of the Torrance/Del Amo Rotary Club. He has been a shopper at the Torrance Certified Farmers Market for almost 30 years and a volunteer there for the last 2½ years. He presented helpful advice to “novice” farmers’-market shoppers, and offered new insights for veteran market shoppers. He hopes to give us a new appreciation for our local farmer’s market.
The Torrance Certified Farmers’ Market is located at Wilson Park on Crenshaw between Sepulveda & Carson, on Tuesday & Saturday mornings from 8 to 1. It started on Tuesdays in 1985 and on Saturdays in 1992. Each market has about 65 growers. This event has become a community meeting place for neighbors and friends to greet, chat and sample. (The Palos Verdes Farmers’ Market is now located at Peninsula High School, Sunday mornings from 9-1.)
Farmers’ markets offer safe nutritious vine- & tree-ripened fruit and vegetables grown in California and certified by the State of California. They eliminate the costs of packing, shipping and wholesale distributing, saving money for both farmers and consumers. Quality produce is brought in each week direct from the farms, with a year-round selection of California-grown fruits, nuts, vegetables, eggs, honey, baked goods, fish, cut flowers and nursery stock.
Certified Farmers’ Markets are certified by the County Agricultural Commissioner. Farmers must have a Certified Producer Certificate on site, and can sell only California-grown produce grown on their own farm. The LA County agricultural Commission inspectors visit participating farms and markets. Produce can be called organic if it was grown on soil with no prohibited substances applied for 3 years prior.
The Torrance Farmers’ Market website (https://www.torranceca.gov/our-city/cultural-services/farmers-market) has links to useful information on:
- What’s in Season;
- Farmer’s Market Brochure with List of Other Markets in Southern California;
- Kitchen Tips & Tricks, how to use herbs and other food components;
- Guide to Asian Produce, with some recipes.