Changing Seasons at the Hollywood Farmers’ Market

The changing seasons couldn’t have been more obvious this week at the Hollywood Farmers’ Market. For example, at a typical farm stand, one side of the table was filled with the last of the summer produce such as plums, peppers and figs and the other side stocked with new arrivals such as potatoes, apples and winter squash.

“The squash is the first to come in, but soon we will have pumpkins,” said Jarred Powell, the owner of the family-owned T&D Farms, an organic produce farm in Redlands.

Is it really time to start thinking about pumpkins? T&D Farms has the first acorn and butternut squash varieties as well as a selection of sweet and spicy peppers, one of the last of the summer produce to be harvested from the vine. There are such varieties such as Anaheim, banana wax and the traditional green jalapeno. I like to roast or grill any of these peppers with olive oil, salt and pepper and to serve as a condiment with grilled meat or chicken. It’s also nice to hang a bunch in the kitchen window and let them dry for use during the winter.

While you’re at the T&D Farms stand, make sure to grab the last of its summer watermelons, or one of the different heirloom varieties of cantaloupes because it’s obvious this is the end of the vine for them.

“We will have melons for a couple of weeks as long as the weather stays warm,” Powell said.

Another transitioning crop is the abundant selection of different grape varieties. Mark Boujikian Farms offers Black Beauty (sweet dark purple), Thompson (green seedless), and Red Flame (red seedless). At Ken’s Top Notch farm stand you can find seedless Princess grapes and Kyoho, a Japanese variety that has a rich sweet pulp that balances with the tart skin. Most do not eat the skin of the Kyoho grape, but I like the contrast it offers with the sweet center of the grape. Grapes are the perfect healthy snack food and are welcomed when tucked into a school lunch box.  

Over at the Mud Creek Ranch there are clusters of grapes used for wine making such as Pinot Medoc and Zinfandel. These grapes are perfect to serve on a cheese board. Mud Creek Ranch also has the last of Persian mulberries and quince, an early autumn fruit that is similar to an apple, but has a tart flavor.

This week, the Hollywood Farmers’ Market hosted the “Peak of Season Tomato Festival.” It was a day to celebrate the abundance and variety of tomatoes that are available at the market throughout the summer season. The festival also marks the end of summer at the farmers' market. Shoppers lined up to meet farmers who specialize in growing heirloom tomatoes.

Chef and radio personality Evan Kleiman was also on hand along with Los Angeles Times food editor, Russ Parsons, who gave advice on how to enjoy the summer tomato harvest. Chefs from the Farmer’s Kitchen, the market-sponsored restaurant, gave cooking demonstrations using ingredients purchased at the farmers' market.

Please feel free to share stories and recipes of the items you find interesting at the market. If you see me strolling about, please say hello.

See you next week at the market!

The Hollywood Farmers Market is located at the intersection of Ivar and Selma avenues, between Sunset and Hollywood boulevards. Rain or shine, it is open every Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The market is a certified open-air street market with approximately 100 farmers, 30 local artisans and 40 baked-goods and prepared-food vendors who sell their products every Sunday. It is a direct-to-consumer marketplace with all produce and products from local, California vendors and growers.

Parking: Cinerama Dome: $3 for first two hours with validation available at the information booth at Ivar and DeLongpre avenues. Metered parking: Check parking enforcement signs. Some meters free until 11 a.m. on Sundays.

Dog Sitting: Only tagged assistance dogs are allowed at the market, but this shouldn’t stop others from walking their dogs to the public event. There’s a dog sitting service provided at the corner of Ivar and Vine streets. Your prized pooch will get to socialize with other dogs while you do your shopping at the market. It charges a small fee of $5 per 20 minutes.