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Farmers Market finds
new home at Agoura HS |
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Chris Gean from
Harry’s Berries offers a variety of strawberries, yellow cherry
tomatoes, and blackberries at the Farmers Market. |
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Fresh produce, a unique
shopping experience, and all natural products comprise
the newly established Farmers Market at Agoura High
School which runs 3:30 to 7:00 pm every Tuesday. The
city has done without a farmers' market when the previous
operator shut down the market at the Whizins shopping
center last fall.
"Families can have a really unique shopping experience
coming to the Farmers Market. Many times kids come with
their parents to help pick out their apples and oranges,
or other foods for their lunches. Most of the time they
wouldn't do this at a grocery store" says Karen Schott,
Operations Manager for the Ventura County Certified
Farmers Market Association (VCCFMA). The new market,
which has been in business for a little over two months,
features fresh produce often grown organically, without
the use of pesticides and sprays. |
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"Customers can feel safe buying from
our market. All of the products are from California
crops. Currently, California has the toughest food safety
laws and all farmers at the market are certified by
the County Agricultural Commissioner" says Schott. Purchasing
items from the market supports the farmers themselves,
as well as the community. The association annually gives
the Agoura High School Parent Fundraising Committee
a portion of the proceeds, along with giving funds to
the Las Virgenes Unified School District. Funds given
to the committee will go towards the facility improvement
campaign. Also, every week the market donates a space
for a club or organization from the school that, according
to Schott, "allows for great exposure and opportunity
to raise funds." In addition to raising funds for the
school, it is expected that the Agoura High School Arts
Department will showcase their talent when school begins
in the fall. Talent may include anything from paintings,
drawings, and sculptures to live performances.
The community feels it is important to support both
the school and the farmers themselves. Yael Rosen, an
Oak Park resident, says she likes shopping at the market
because "it offers fresher produce than the grocery
store, and it is important to support local farmers."
"This is how we make most of our money. We often attend
30 markets a month," says Chris Gean, of Harry's Berries,
based in Oxnard.
Other food products that can be purchased are baked
goods, honey, farm fresh eggs and a variety of fruits
and vegetables. These products are considered to be
superior to those offered in a regular grocery store.
Gean said, "The produce at the market is always fresher
than the grocery store. Produce that is shipped is picked
three-fourths as ripe and has a longer shelf life, but
the produce here is ripe when picked. Usually, all the
produce is picked the morning of the market." Other
benefits to the Farmers Market include the ability to
talk directly with the farmers and find out exactly
how everything is grown. The farmer will often give
preparation advice and can enlighten the customer as
to what crops will soon be in season. |
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Carolynn
Reeter, age 4, selects a bundle of flowers from
the market. |
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