Mar Vista, California (PRWEB) July 26, 2015
There’s lots to enjoy in early August at Mar Vista Farmers’ Market, and everyone is invited to join the Sunday festivities. On August 2, special guests from Sonoma County, Paul and Kendra Kolling, return this year with delicious treats from Northern California – Gravenstein apples from Nana Mae’s Organics, Specific Gravity Cider and artisan grilled cheese sandwiches from The Farmer’s Wife. On August 9, Mar Vista Farmers’ Market celebrates its ninth birthday with Country Fair contests open to all – pie-baking, corn shucking, egg tossing and more – plus great music throughout the day. In addition this year, the Farmers’ Market is a hub or CicLAvia, so visitors are encouraged to ride their bikes or stop along the way for refreshments.
First launched in August 2006, Mar Vista Farmers’ Market has grown from just a handful of farmers and food vendors to a weekly event with over 50 farmers offering fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, plants and other foodstuffs; 35 purveyors of tasty foods; and special events, activities for kids and dog-sitting.
This year’s early-August activities promise to be better than ever, with special guests or events on two consecutive Sundays:
SUNDAY, AUGUST 2
9 AM – 2 PM
Back by popular demand, Paul and Kendra Kolling travel from Sonoma County with their flavorful wares. Paul’s company, Nana Mae's Organics, showcases organic Gravenstein apples from Sebastopol – the Gravenstein capital of the world – when the delectable fruits with a very short season will be at their peak.
Paul also offers Specific Gravity Cider from his new company, launched last year with two friends who share a commitment to craftsmanship and sustainability from farm to glass. Their natural hard cider is made from certified-organic, heirloom Gravenstein apples from Sonoma County that are hand-selected at the height of freshness. Pre-orders for the 2015 vintage can be made now at paul@specificgravitycider.com for delivery to buyers at the August 2 event.
Native to Denmark and discovered as a chance seedling in 1669, the Gravenstein was first planted in Sonoma County in 1811 by Russian trappers. With a short and early season, it ripens in late July, making it one of the first apples in North America ready for market. The squat, irregularly shaped apple has a very short stem and comes in a variety of colors, usually with a greenish-yellow background with broad red stripes. Known for its all-purpose versatility for eating, cooking and cider, the Gravenstein has a crisp, juicy texture, and a flavor that is aromatic and full of old-fashioned, sweet and tart flavor. Grown in only a few countries worldwide, Gravenstein apples in the U.S. are found predominately in the Sonoma County town of Sebastopol. In 2005, Slow Food USA declared these apples to be a heritage food.
The August 2 event also showcases Kendra Kolling’s company, The Farmer’s Wife. Her artisan grilled cheese sandwiches using local Marin and Sonoma County farmstead cheeses consistently receive rave reviews. These savory treats were voted “Best Sandwich in Sonoma County” in 2014, 2013 and 2012 in the Bite-Club ‘Wich Hunt, Sando Competition.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 9
10 AM – 3 PM
Now celebrating nine years, Mar Vista’s annual birthday party features lots for the entire family to enjoy. Activities include Country Fair fun, including an egg toss, corn-shucking contest and a seed-spitting contest – and all ages are welcome to try their best. A favorite from past years – the Pie-Baking Contest – invites all bakers to enter a summer fruit pie using farmers’ market ingredients. (Visitors who are apple pie bakers may want to take full advantage of Gravenstein apples available only on August 2!) Pies will be judged on taste, presentation and flakiness of crust. New this year is the addition of a pie-baking contest just for kids under 12. Prizes for all include gift certificates of $100, $50 and $25 at Mar Vista Farmers’ Market. To enter, bakers should bring their pies in a disposable 9” pie time by 10 am to the Pie Booth (on Pacific, next to the knife sharpener).
This year, Mar Vista Farmers’ Market annual birthday celebration is also held in conjunction with the car-free CicLAvia event from Culver City to Venice beach on August 9 from 9 am–4 pm. CicLAvia welcomes pedestrians, bicycles, skateboards, rollerblades, wheelchairs and more. Located about half-way into the six-mile ride, Mar Vista Farmers’ Market is a hub for the event and an ideal stopping point for a break. For those seeking refreshment, there is a wide selection of tasty offerings to eat or drink, including tacos, falafel, dim sum, salads, sushi, pressed juices and fresh-squeezed lemonade.
Because CicLAvia will have road closures from the south and west on August 9, Mar Vista Farmers’ Market visitors coming by car are encouraged to use the free parking lots at Bolero north of the farmers' market and use the access from the east and north. For a parking map, visit marvistafarmersmarket.org. For more information on the CicLAvia event, visit ciclavia.org,
CicLAvia first took to Los Angeles’ streets in 2010 to challenge the concept of Southern California as a car-only region. The organization was launched to temporarily remove cars from streets for one day and open them to other forms of non-motorized transit. Their mission is to catalyze vibrant public spaces, active transportation and good health through car-free streets. CicLAvia engages with people to positively transform relationships with communities and each other.
Throughout the day, the farmers’ market features great music by I See Hawks In L.A., Dan Weinstein and the Two Tones, and – for extra pomp & circumstance – the New Orleans Jazz Band:
- I See Hawks In L.A. is an alternative country group from Los Angeles, founded in 1999 by Rob Waller and brothers Paul and Anthony Lacques with the support of established West Coast country rock bassist David Jackson. Their music incorporates traditional elements of country music, vocal harmonies and traditional instruments including acoustic guitar and fiddle. The band plays regularly and has become one of the best-known country music acts in Southern California. Besides seven albums and success on country music charts, they were named Best Country Artist by the L.A. Weekly in 2002 and 2003.
- Dan Weinstein is a prolific violinist and trombonist, and an occasional music composer in the Southern California music scene. Weinstein has recorded in widely disparate genres during the past three decades, but is generally known for live jazz performances. His best-known credits come from his live sessions with Ray Charles and the Jacksons.
- The New Orleans Jazz Band represents the American art form of jazz in its purist sense. Led by New Orleans native Hilarion Domingue, the band features some of Los Angeles' finest musicians, many of whom are veterans of the Ray Charles band. They perform parades, funerals and other sacred and secular functions throughout Southern California.
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ABOUT MAR VISTA FARMERS’ MARKET
Located 3826 Grand View at Venice Boulevard in Los Angeles, Mar Vista Farmers’ Market is open rain or shine on Sundays from 9am to 2pm, except major holidays.
Mar Vista Farmers’ Market is a neighborhood Certified Farmers Market – selling direct to consumers fruits, flowers and veggies in their freshest, ripest form, straight from California family farms. In addition, there is a wide selection of prepared foods at the market; all vendor stalls are family owned and bring a personal touch to their delicious multi-cultural offerings. For children, there’s a complimentary craft workshop each week, with face painting the last Sunday of the month, when Farm Style Cooking for Kids also takes place. A free dog-sitting service is provided for canine visitors. All enjoy music by resident DJs, featuring an eclectic play list that melds rural and urban, past and present.
The first Mar Vista Market took place August 6, 2006. In a short time, it met its goal of bringing fresh, direct-marketed produce from California farmers to the community. Sundays are a bustling example of Mar Vistans coming out to shop, eat, and visit with their neighbors. The farmers’ market helps achieve broader social impacts as well, such as community development, better health and nutrition, and preserving family farms.
For more information or photos, please contact:
Diana Rodgers, Manager
Mar Vista Farmers’ Market
3826 Grand View Blvd. (at Venice Blvd.)
Los Angeles, CA 90066
310-861-4444
diana@marvistafarmersmarket.org
http://www.marvistafarmersmarket.org
