Shopping for Fruits and Veggies Accompanied by Music at South Pasadena Farmers’ Market

Shop for fruits and vegetables directly from local farmers, while enjoying music and a variety of ready-to-eat foods at the South Pasadena Farmers’ Market near the Gold Line South Pasadena Station on Thursday, September 4, from 4:00-8:00 p.m.

More than a dozen farmers and vendors will be selling their own products, which include jams, jellies, fish and more.
The market also has a number of vendors with prepared food, live music and special events for patrons to enjoy while they shop. The special ambiance of the market under a canopy of towering trees makes it a good place for bonding moments with family and friends.

Organizers have assured customers of food safety as the market is approved by the county agricultural commissioner, and vendors are only allowed to sell the agricultural products they grow themselves.

The Pasadena Farmers’ Market also features nutritional programs such as Nutritional Assistance Programs, Women, Infants, Children (WIC) program, Senior Farmers’ Market Nutritional Program and Cal Fresh.

Various public events are showcased at the weekly Farmers’ Market such as the safety fair, Christmas Tree Lighting, Earth Day celebration, Farm to Table Toyota Tour and summer celebrations.
Local nonprofits are onsite including the South Pasadena Arts Council, Relay for Life, Water Council and other organizations.

The Pasadena Farmers’ Market is a member of the California Federation of Certified Farmers’ Markets and is known for showcasing fresh and affordable items. Direct sales by farmers to the consumer eliminates the cost of middleman marketing.

Officials said the market enables farmers to have an outlet especially suited to moving smaller volumes of produce, thus creating a marketing channel outside of the traditional large volume distribution systems. The farmers are also able to sell tree-ripened fruits which are too delicate for the packing and shipping process.

Only cash and electronic benefit transfer (EBT) will be accepted for payments.

The market is sponsored by the City of Pasadena Human Services and Recreation Department under the rules and regulations of the Department of Food and Agriculture of the State of California.

The market is also held every Tuesday at Villa Parke Center and on Saturday at Victory Park.

The Villa Parke Center Farmers’ Market was started in 1980 and the Victory Park Farmers’ Market began in 1984. They have been open every week since then, rain or shine, with the exception of the week of the Rose Bowl Parade. The markets were given the 1997 Arthur Nobel Award for “Making Life Better in Pasadena.”

The South Pasadena Farmers’ Market is located at on Meridian Ave. and El Centro Street next to the Gold Line South Pasadena Station. Free public parking is available in the old school parking lot. For more information, call (626) 449-0179 or visit http://www.pasadenafarmersmarket.org.