As a frequent visitor to New York City’s farmers’ markets, I was curious to check out what was available at markets on the West Coast. Last Sunday, I wandered around the Hollywood farmers’ market on Ivar and Selma Avenues, where the stalls are lined up as tightly as stars on the Walk of Fame. Southern California’s farmers offered a variety of goodies, some of which you won’t find in New York City’s markets (unless global warming kicks in high gear):
Avocados and more avocados. Hollywood benefits by being less than two hours away from Fallbrook – The Avocado Capital of the World.
multi-colored pomegranates
No, I’m not grappling with a slimy, alien-like growth a-la District 9. This is a Buddha’s hand lemon. “Scare the kids,” instructs the message written on the box.
Every 30 feet: another musical interlude.
Are snails chewing up your passionfruit leaves? This vendor claims you can solve the problem with some snail-on-snail warfare. That must be a battle for which you'll need slow-motion photography.
The scents of the hot food vendors down Selma Ave were irresistible. Here are some breakfast burritos and omelets.
This pupusa vendor had the longest line at the market, and for good reason.
I selfishly ate this asparagus and zucchini pupusa with guacamole, cream, curtido, and hot sauce.
Berries too? I tried hard to think of a fruit or vegetable that we have in the Northeast that cannot be grown in SoCal. Pumpkins? Apples? SoCal has them. I’m thinking ground cherries, but maybe they’ve got that one figured out too.
The Omnivorous Traveler's Notebook 