47 Certified Markets Dot Region : Retailing: State approval guarantees quality standards and that a farmer--not a middleman--is doing the selling.

There are 47 certified farmers’ markets in Southern California--stretching from Santa Maria south to Pacific Beach. Some are farmers’ markets in the strictest sense, where the sole purpose is the direct sale of farm products. Others have expanded the concept to include educational demonstrations, entertainment and booths selling prepared foods or nonfood items.

Before a farmer can sell commodities at a certified farmers’ market, the county agricultural commissioner must check that the farmer actually grows what is sold. This inspection guarantees buyers they are purchasing directly from the farmer, a family member or employee.

Certification also guarantees the produce meets the same quality and maturity standards required for supermarkets. It does, however, exempt the produce from normal standards for size and appearance, as well as packing and labeling requirements; therefore, some produce in the farmers’ markets may vary from normal size and might be blemished.

Certified farmers’ markets are part of a direct marketing program of the California Department of Food and Agriculture. The program offers technical assistance to nonprofit organizations, local government agencies and one or more certified producers who want to open and operate a certified market.

Here’s a list of the markets, divided by county:

LOS ANGELES COUNTY

Alhambra--Chico Street (east of Garfield Avenue, north of Main Street). Open every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Market manager is Diane Parker, (818) 570-3205.

Bell--Bank of America parking lot, 6312 Atlantic Blvd. Open every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Market manager is Don Wanlass, (714) 992-1221.

Bellflower--Laurel Street and Bellflower Boulevard ( 1/2 mile north of the 91 Freeway). Open every Monday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Market manager is Muriel MacGregor, (213) 804-1424, Ext. 201.

Burbank--Corner of 3rd Street and Palm Avenue. Open every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Market manager is John Rodriguez, (818) 896-6539.

Compton/Hub City--East side of Alameda Street at Compton Boulevard. Open every Friday from 11 a.m to 6 p.m. (closes 5 p.m. November through March). Market manager is Joe Storey, (213) 537-5415.

Gardena--13000 S. Van Ness Ave. (Hollypark Methodist Church, just south of El Segundo Boulevard). Open every Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to noon. Market manager is Mike Cluster, (213) 749-9551.

Hermosa Beach--13th Street and Hermosa Avenue. Beginning July 6, open every Friday from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Market manager is Mary Lou Weiss, (213) 379-1488.

Highland Park--Sycamore Grove Park, 4600 block of North Figueroa Street. Open every Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Market co-mangers are Betty Hamilton and Gretchen Sterling, (818) 449-0179.

Long Beach/Downtown--Cedar Avenue between Broadway and 3rd Street. Open every Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Market manager is Dale Whitney, (213) 433-3881.

Long Beach/North--Dooley’s parking lot, Del Amo and Long Beach boulevards. Open every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. Market manager is Dale Whitney, (213) 433-3881.

Los Angeles/Adams and Vermont--In the parking lot of St. Agnes Catholic Church, 1432 W. Adams Blvd. (west of Vermont Avenue). Open every Wednesday from 1 to 6 p.m. June 20 through Sept. 5 and from 2 to 5 p.m. the remainder of the year. Market manager is Leilani Taliaferro, (213) 732-3610.

Monrovia--Library Park, Lime Avenue at Myrtle Avenue. Open every Friday from 3 to 6:30 p.m. Market co-managers are Betty Hamilton and Gretchen Sterling, (818) 449-0179.

Norwalk--Parking lot across the street from Excelsior High School, south side of Alondra Boulevard, one block west of Pioneer Boulevard. Open every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Market manager is Ray Cristi, (213) 863-7365.

Pasadena/City Hall--100 N. Garfield Ave. (in front of city hall). Open every Thursday from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Market co-managers are Betty Hamilton and Gretchen Sterling, (818) 449-0179.

Pasadena/Victory--Pasadena High School parking lot, Paloma Street and Sierra Madre Boulevard. Open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. Market co-managers are Betty Hamilton and Gretchen Sterling, (818) 449-0179.

Pasadena/Villa--Villa Park Neighborhood Center, 363 E. Villa St. (west of Los Robles Avenue). Open every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Market co-managers are Betty Hamilton and Gretchen Sterling, (818) 449-0179.

Pomona--Corner of North Garey Avenue and Pearl Street. Open every Saturday from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. Market manager is Harry Brown-Heigle, (213) 735-2586.

Redondo Beach--Veterans Park, Torrance Boulevard and Harbor Drive. Open every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Market manager is Sharon Ishibashi, (213) 544-3158.

San Fernando Valley (Arleta/Pacoima)--Department of Motor Vehicles parking lot, 14400 Van Nuys Blvd. (west of I-5 Freeway). Open every Saturday from 7 to 10 a.m. Market manager is Margaret Takahashi, (818) 361-3902.

Santa Monica--Second Street at Arizona Avenue. Open every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Market manager is Laura Dingle, (714) 879-6669.

San Pedro--Third Street between Centre and Mesa streets. Open every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Market manager is Dale Whitney, (213) 433-3881.

South Gate--Southgate Park, on Tweedy Boulevard between Walnut and Atlantic avenues. Open every Monday from 9 a.m to 1 p.m. Market manager is Leilani Taliaferro, (213) 732-3610.

Torrance--Charles H. Wilson Park, 2200 block of Crenshaw Boulevard (at Jefferson Street). Open every Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Market manager is Rose Munoz, (213) 618-2930.

Venice--Venice Boulevard at Pacific Avenue. Open every Friday from 7 to 11 a.m. Market manager is Jim Murez, (213) 399-1490.

West Hollywood--Plummer Park, 7377 Santa Monica Blvd. Open every Monday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Market manager is Kamish Blume, (213) 854-7471.

Whittier--Bailey Street, between Comstock and Greenleaf avenues. Open every Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Market manager is Kae Thomas, (714) 526-5814.

ORANGE COUNTY

Costa Mesa--Orange County Fairgrounds parking lot, 88 Fair Drive. Open every Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Market manager is Frank Bowring, (714) 635-1537.

Fullerton--Woodcrest Park, 450 W. Orangethorpe Ave. (at Richman Avenue). Open every Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Market co-managers are Mona Amoon, (714) 535-5694, and Kae Thomas, (714) 526-5814.

RIVERSIDE COUNTY

Riverside--Sears parking lot, 5271 Arlington Ave., between Madison Street and Streeter Avenue. Open every Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Market manager is Marie Burns, (714) 685-5940.

Riverside/Downtown--Fifth Street, between Orange and Market streets, behind the Mission Inn. Open every Wednesday from 5 to 9 p.m. Market manager is Marie Burns, (714) 685-5940.

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY

Colton--Fleming Park, F Street, between La Cadena Drive and 7th Street. Open every Monday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Market manager is Marie Burns, (714) 685-5940.

Redlands--East State Street, between Orange and Ninth streets. Open every Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. Market manager is Marie Burns, (714) 685-5940.

SAN DIEGO COUNTY

Coronado--Orange and 7th avenues. Open every Thursday from 3 to 7 p.m. Market manager is Mary Hillebrecht, (619) 741-3763.

Del Mar--Del Mar City Hall parking lot, 10th Street and Camino del Mar. Open every Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. Market manager is Madeline Maciel, (619) 749-3222.

Escondido--North County Certified Farmer Market, Via Rancho Parkway and Sunset Drive. Open every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Market manager is Alan Usrey, (619) 727-1471.

Escondido Downtown--Grand Avenue and Broadway Boulevard. Open every Tuesday from 4 to 8 p.m. Market manager is Mark Wall, (619) 726-8183.

Pacific Beach--Promenade Shopping Mall, Mission Avenue, two blocks south of Grand Avenue. Open every Tueday from 3 to 7 p.m. and every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. Market manager is Mary Hillebrecht, (619) 741-3763.

San Marcos--Old California Restaurant Row, 1020 San Marcos Blvd. Open every Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. Market manager is Elainna Carter, (619) 743-5616.

Vista/City Hall--Escondido and Eucalyptus avenues (behind Vista City Hall). Open every Saturday from 8 to 11 a.m. Market manager is Olga Gatt, (619) 726-1289.

Vista/Main Street Festival--East Vista Way from Citrus Avenue to Santa Fe. Open April through Christmas on Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. Market co-managers are Dick and Margo Baughman, (619) 726-8545.

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY

Carpinteria--500 block of Linden Avenue. Open every Saturday from 2 to 5 p.m. Market manager is Laurie Kindrick, (805) 684-9488.

Lompoc--Ocean Avenue and I Street. Open every Friday from 3 to 7 p.m. Market manager is Nyda Michaelson, (805) 929-5634.

Santa Maria--Target shopping center parking lot, corner of Betteravia Road and Miller Street. Open every Wednesday from noon to 4 p.m. Market manager is Nyda Michaelson, (805) 929-5634.

Santa Barbara--Corner of Cota and Santa Barbara streets. Open every Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Market co-managers are Kathy Doria and Mark Sheridan, (805) 563-0393.

Santa Barbara--”Old Towne”, 400 block of State Street. Open every Tuesday from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Market co-managers are Kathy Doria and Mark Sheridan, (805) 563-0393.

VENTURA COUNTY

Ventura/Downtown--City parking lot at corner of Figueroa and Santa Clara streets. Open every Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Market manager is Karen Collins, (805) 654-7846.

Ventura/Midtown--Montgomery Ward parking lot at Main Street and Mills Road. Open every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Market manager is Karen Collins, (805) 654-7846.