A Farmers Market Returns to Central Avenue

With the opening of a new green and satellite L.A. city hall in South L.A. last week comes the re-opening of the Central Avenue Farmer's Market, which by all appearances seems to be a bigger and badder operation. A kitchen built inside the new city facility means freshly prepared foods and cooking classes to be hosted at the the market in addition to the market operator,SEE-LA (they operate the big Hollywood Farmers Market and Farmers Kitchen, too), be working with a federally funded state program to bring more fresh food to families.

"It is an ideal location since the project is an exemplary example of sustainability, which includes solar panels, recycled materials and a roof-top garden," explained Councilmember Jan Perry, who was excited to see the new city facility paired with the market.

Pompea Smith, SEE-LA's CEO and Market Manager, is happy to see the market being used as a pilot program site for the Women, Infants and Children Program, which helps families by providing checks for buying healthy supplemental foods from WIC-authorized vendors. "We have worked closely with the State of California to ensure that Central Avenue Farmers' Market will be the Southern California pilot site for the new WIC cash-value voucher (CVV) program starting in April 2010. This will allow WIC families and their children to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables on a monthly basis," she said.

First opened five years ago in a nearby pocket park across from the Dunbar Hotel, the market outgrew itself and moved temporarily to Carver Middle School, changing days from Thursday to Saturday, in anticipation of the new city facility.