Food tops the list at the Twin Peaks farmers market
By Mary-Justine Lanyon
A visitor to the farmers market in Twin Peaks, located in the parking lot of the Masonic Lodge on Highway 189, is immediately struck by the beauty of the produce.
From bright red strawberries to green squash, the colors of the vegetables would From bright red strawberries to green squash, the colors of the vegetables would please an artist’s eye.
Wendell Wilson of the Mountain Homeless Coalition chooses just the right container of apricots.
The colors of these cauliflower are extraordinary.
Blue oyster and lion’s mane are two of the unusual mushrooms available at the market.
Alex Vallejos (left), the organizer of the Twin Peaks market at the empanadas booth.
Carrots also come in a variety of shades.
The majority of the vendors have food for sale – fruit, vegetables and even hot food.
“Be sure to go around back,” Alex Vallejos, the market’s organizer says. “We have added more hot food vendors.”
And he is right – There are Argentinian empanadas, Chinese food, burgers and barbecue. At one booth, folks can have lemonade flavored just to their taste. And there are picnic tables where folks can sit and enjoy dinner or a snack.
In front of the lodge visitors find vendor after vendor with beautiful fruit – avocados, lemons, plums, apricots, watermelon and more – as well as vegetables. You name it and you can probably find it there.
Have you ever seen lion’s mane mushrooms? Deep Creek Mushrooms is at the market with these unusual fungi, said to have certain health benefits.
There is kefir yogurt, coffee – which Jonathan Coronado of Cafecito Coronado directly trades with Honduras – hummus in a variety of flavors, falafel, bread, seafood, ceviche, eggs and cauliflower in a burst of colors.
There are several non-food vendors as well, selling natural body care and clothing. At one booth, two young children were learning to shoot arrows. And visitors could get a massage at another booth.
The Twin Peaks farmers market takes place every Thursday from 2 p.m. until dusk. There is plenty of parking behind the sheriff’s station in the county lot.
Variety is the spice of life in Running Springs
By Mary-Justine Lanyon
The fun begins as soon as visitors walk onto the field with brightly colored woven blankets and bags. (Photos by Mary-Justine Lanyon)
Angela finger knits blankets and beanies she has for sale at the market
Fruit galore, in a variety of types and colors.
Mark Segal was the musician entertaining the visitors to the market on July 20.
Is anyone in the market for a hat?
This tie-dyed clothing would be both pretty and cool to wear in the hot weather.
Charlene and Ezra with her jewelry made from local flowers embedded in epoxy resin.
With an average of 41 vendors each week, the Running Springs farmers market is by far the largest on the mountain. It also has the greatest variety of vendors.
“We are happy to have a variety of artists and food,” said Cathy Clemens, the market’s coordinator. “And, in this hot weather, refreshing cold treats. Over half the vendors are from the mountain,” she noted.
As soon as visitors walk onto the field next to the Running Springs library, they are met with brightly colored woven blankets and bags. And then there is the shaved ice truck, which had a long line of folks waiting to get cooled off on July 20.
Other vendors offer jewelry, coffee, kefir yogurt, bread, local honey, wood crafts, French pastries, hats, dream catchers, nuts and vinyl records.
And it wouldn’t be a farmers market without fresh produce – fruits and vegetables, some of which is certified organic.
Artist Aidan, who lives just around the corner, was at the market with his paintings, some of which were multimedia, with small rocks adorning the art.
Charlene and Ezra, who live in Cedarpines Park, were at the market with her Sugar Pine Creations. She collects flowers on the mountain, dries them and then embeds them in epoxy resin to make necklaces, bracelets and earrings. This was a project she started during Snowmageddon and it has grown from there.
Each week a musician plays at the market, entertaining folks as they walk by. On July 20 it was Mark Segal, playing his guitar and singing.
The Running Springs farmers market (and artisan faire) takes place every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 2645 Whispering Pines Drive. Follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RSfarmersmarket to get up-to-date information.
Market Night at Lake Gregory attracts large crowds
By RHEA-FRANCES TETLEY
Staff Writer
The South Shore pavilion accommodates many food and clothing vendors and has picnic tables for relaxing with friends and neighbors and dining. (Photos by Rhea-Frances Tetley)
Farm-fresh fruits and vegetables are popular with Market Night attendees.
Every Friday evening through the end of September, the Market at Lake Gregory, with its farmers market and Friday night music concert, attracts hundreds of locals and vacationers to rock out from 4 to 8 p.m. each week.
It features farm-fresh produce from two to three fresh food vendors each week, including fruits, veggies, eggs, honey and more. There are about 40 vendors of unique items, many of which are not available elsewhere.
Each week, the concert features a local band. The concert runs from 5 to 8 p.m.
Sara Green, the market’s coordinator, received training through the Small Business Development Center. She is now a coordinator for that agency, helping to encourage and train more entrepreneurs. She says that 50 percent of the local vendors from the market now have brick-and-mortar storefronts for their merchandise and that this has contributed to increasing the number of new businesses that have opened in town this last year.
Berries are definitely in season.
The types of services and products offered at the market are carefully monitored so that only one, or sometimes two, vendors are offering similar products such as candles, jewelry, T-shirts, handmade wood décor and even freeze-dried dog and cat treats of quails, lamb legs, small fish and more.
There are three to four food trucks each week with a variety of food: Mexican, pizza and barbecue.
There are five sponsors for the market: the Lake Gregory Company, Subaru of San Bernardino, Wears the Mountain, Cecilia Ponce de Leon of Keller-Williams and Associates and Mountains Community Hospital.
“I like being here,” said regular attendee Gary Bancroft. “The music is always different every week, but enjoyable. But mostly I come for the people, as I have met many other locals and made more friends.” Susan Diaz added, “This is such a family event; I can even bring my children who see their friends here and my dog and we all have a good time.” And Ginger Gabriel said, “I love the fresh fruits; for example, these apricots are so delicious that I often find I eat them here while enjoying the music.”
0 Comments