7+Fig Farmers' Market Opens
Ed Fuentes
Fruit being sold in Ernst and Young Plaza. The 7+Fig Farmer's Market opened Thursday.
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — The sidewalk in front of 7+Fig became an odd urban village on Thursday as shoppers, carrying briefcases, carefully inspected apples, blood-red oranges, and strawberrys with the tact of a rural villager visiting the marketplace.
Nearby, actors in costume were promoting the upcoming “Monty Python’s Spamalot.” Walking by the knight-in-flimsy armor were Japanese competitors from the World Figure Skating Championships, who were stopped by ice-skating fans to autograph a program.
Just another day in Downtown.
The shopping complex has long had a weekly market buried in the bowels of the food court, but Thursday marked the start of a new version run by non-profit Raw Inspiration, which also runs markets at Bank of America Plaza and in Pershing Square (as of next week; the market formerly operated on 5th street).
Complex owner Brookfield Properties relocated the decade-old market to the upper plaza, with organic farmers placed along Figueroa. Those working in nearby office towers can see the crowds gather for a variety of lunch choices, fresh fruit and vegetables, breads, crafts and the ever present “Kettle-Korn.”
“Sometimes I forget about the market,” says Antoine Hernandez, who works on the upper floors of a nearby office tower. “Today I looked out the window and saw the top of tents and thought I would come down and take a look.’
Others did as well, and the lines were sometimes up to ten deep. Wisely, some 7+Fig food vendors set up their own stands and offered quick lunches. Down below in the food court, the Martgol Magic A-team Band played a lively jazz set to lunch rush.
A community village is how Brookfield approached this version of a farmers market. “This is the oldest of its kind downtown, and after 10 years it was time to expand,” says Brookfield Director of Marketing, Patrice Hopper. “We want to increase our outreach to the community, and show what amenities we have. We are still thriving.”
7+Fig Farmer’s Market / 7+Fig / Every Thursday from 11:30am to 3pm
Holly Isabelle on March 28, 2009, at 01:20AM – #1
Oh this is absolutely amazing! Thanks for the heads up =] I love how downtown is becoming more residential and gradually developing itself as more of a community, opposed to it being a place strictly for business only to be left deserted after work hours~
Love the blog, by the way ;)
craig thornton on March 30, 2009, at 01:11PM – #2
i still dont understand why there is no co op in los angeles. have a nice little spot where stuff is constantly being delivered and its open consistently, the farmers market at the grove doesnt really deliver on quality, but i dont always have time to chase farmers markets around every different day so i end up there when i am in a bind.
veronica on March 30, 2009, at 05:54PM – #3
If you're looking for something like a co-op, there are CSA options all over the city, not just at farmer's market on 3rd. Check http://www.localharvest.org/csa/ - I know one of them delivers boxes of much more than you can eat to the Atwater market weekly, which is much closer to downtown, and I'm sure with enough interest they just might to 7th and Fig or other locations as well! Like my grandpa always says, don't complain unless you're planning on doing something about it ;)
nanorich on March 30, 2009, at 10:59PM – #4
There is a coop in Santa Monica
http://www.coopportunity.com/
And the "Farmer's Market" at Third and Fairfax is basically a place to eat and buy expensive groceries.
There are three Farmer's Markets downtown, and there are plenty of them near by on weekends.
The Hollywood one is huge.
Otherwise, you might as well go the ultra Whole Foods store in Pasadena.
Sarah on April 03, 2009, at 04:53AM – #5
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Sarah
http://grillsblog.com