Sherman Oaks Farmers Market Becoming a Popular Attraction

The Sherman Oaks Community Farmers Market may not yet have the hordes of crowds of more established Los Angeles markets, but it’s faring pretty well for a two-month old market according to the market's managers.

Attendance each Saturday morning has been rising.

  "I go every week and try to support the market,”said resident Libbi Shani. “I love this market. Please keep it growing! It’s great for the community," she added.

The market specializes in farm-fresh fruits and veggies, plus a number of original exotic foods prepared by the vendors who are selling them.

Early birds, who aim for an 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. visit, can avoid traffic on the way to the market, located at the intersection of Sepulveda Boulevard and Camarillo Street. 

Parking is generally not an issue at the farmers market, but early birds will also have a shorter walk from the parking lot to the market then visitors who arriver closer to the market close at 1 p.m.

One reader, who stopped by around noon, said the parking lot was beginning to get crowded and throngs of people were walking through the booths.

Reader Libby Shani, a particularly enthusiastic fan of the market, asked other area residents to come support the market.

“I go every week and try to support the market,” she writes. “I love this market. Please keep it growing! It’s great for the community.”

With the help of market manager, Carole Gallegos, the chamber hopes to do exactly as Shani wants.

Gallegos already has musicians lined up for the month. Right now, she said she has four or five different groups rotating.

Of last week’s musicians, Mike Bonning and John Keller of Organic Demo.com, Gallegos said: “These guys are great. There is one little boy about four-years-old, who sings along to all of their songs and requests songs from them.”

All profits from the chamber-owned market stay in the community, said Bob Cohen, president of the Sherman Oaks Chamber of Commerce.