Fresh Produce With That Down-Home Feel

Iwant my produce gorgeous and that means fresh. When I buy it at the Farmer Direct Markets I know it was probably picked that day. At these movable markets, you buy directly from the California farmer, usually right off their trucks. In fact, the person handling your purchase is usually the one who grew it. Most of the farms are family owned and operated. By eliminating the middleman, both buyer and seller profit, and the consumer is able to realize an average savings of 20% to 30% off supermarket prices.

Expect vegetables, fruit, eggs, fish, nuts, honey and fresh-cut flowers at the peak of their season. Rain or shine, the markets are open year-round. Enjoy a shopping excursion like no other; it’s friendly, relaxed with that down-home atmosphere.

Some of the markets in Los Angeles County:

Brentwood Village: Barrington Place and Barrington Avenue, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays.

Burbank: 3rd Street and Palm Avenue, public parking lot, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.

Hollywood: Ivan Street between Hollywood Boulevard and Selma Avenue, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays.

Los Angeles: St. Agnes Catholic Church, Adams Boulevard and Vermont Avenue, 2 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays.

Mission Hills: 14941 Devonshire St., between Woodman Avenue and Sepulveda Boulevard, 7 to 10 a.m. Saturdays.

Pasadena: City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave., 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursdays.

Pasadena: Victory, Pasadena High School, Paloma Drive and Sierra Madre Boulevard, 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays.

Pasadena: Villa Parke Neighborhood Center, 363 East Villa St., 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays.

Santa Monica: Arizona Avenue and 2nd Street, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays.

Venice: Venice Boulevard and Pacific Avenue, 7 to 11 a.m. Fridays.

West Hollywood: Plummer Park, 7377 Santa Monica Blvd., 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays.

Ventura County markets:

Camarillo: Old Downtown Camarillo, 2220 Ventura Blvd., 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturdays.

Ojai: Matilija and Signal streets, 5 to 8 p.m. Thursdays.

Oxnard: Downtown Oxnard CFM, 7th and B streets, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays.

Thousand Oaks: Janss Mall at Wilbur Road, 5 to 8 p.m. Thursdays.

Ventura: Downtown, Santa Clara and Figueroa streets, 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturdays.

If you’ve never shopped these markets, give it a try. It’s a pleasant change of pace from checkout lines.

Geri Cook’s Bargains column runs every Thursday in Valley View. Questions about shopping may be sent to her, in care of Valley View, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth, CA 91311. Letters will not be answered individually, but topics of general interest will be discussed in future columns.