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by Christine_Devine from Work computer

Last Post 32 days, 8 hours Ago


Farmers Markets
Feb 1, 2008 | 11:32 PM
Category: News
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Plans for Sunday? I'm guessing they include watching the Super Bowl??!!!
Anyone up for game day snacks? Fresh salsa, fresh guacamole, fresh vegetables for your veggie platter, fruit salad?

My Sunday plans include a trip to the neighborhood farmers market before the game. It is a one day weekly affair close to my home where farmers pull in in the morning and drive out by 2pm. Early bird customers snap up raspberries, blueberries and blackberries before the berry vendor runs out. Smart shoppers bring their carts with wheels.(Those bags of oranges from central California can sure get heavy!) Hungry anyone? The sausage vendor is grilling at the end of the aisle. All his meats are made fresh in Marina del Rey.(I recommend the jalapeno/turkey! Spicy.)

You'll see me at the farmers markets in some upcoming promos on Fox 11 news. We were asked to pick a place of personal interest. The farmers markets are close to my heart. I'm talking about the ones set up for just a day in various neighborhoods. Studio City has its on Sunday. Venice on Friday. Santa Monica on Wednesday and Saturday. They're all over town!! www.farmernet.com/events/cfms I love not knowing what will be offered until you get there. Last weekend, seedless purple grapes were in season. The elderly vendor whom I love looked at them so proudly as he picked out the best batch for me. The orange vendor had me sample two or three kinds before I settled on the sweet snack oranges versus the smaller juicing oranges. You have to be careful not to get greedy and buy more than you can eat in a week!

I grew up with fresh foods on the table. My grandfather was a farmer in upstate New York. It was a town so small that to this day the fire department is still all volunteer. Grandpa was a volunteer as were his brothers and nephew. He was the boyscout leader too. Sound like Mayberry? Pretty sappy, huh?? You pull off the freeway these days and the first thing you see is the dairy, red barn and all! The local ice cream store, Charlaps, would have a line wrapped around the building in the summer. It had the freshest ice cream. Cinnamon was my favorite! Grandpa brewed his own root beer. Grandma would only buy fresh chicken. We picked cherries in a town nearby. In his older years, Grandpa had just a large garden on his property. A stream ran through where we'd catch fresh fish.(not fun cleaning them!) There was always fresh lettuce, onions, radishes, peas, green beans on the table. And of course, homemade pie(loved grandma's blueberry). Contrast that to something Grandpa once said in bragging about his good health... "I eat anything I want." I responded, "but yes, you didn't grow up in the fast food era."

Grandpa passed away at 97. Grandma, just last year. My childhood/family home in upstate N.Y. is no more. The local farmers markets help to bring back the memories.
I love running into my girlfriends... Angie after church all dressed up. Ann, who is the best gourmet cook. Sometimes you'll see superstar chef Wolfgang Puck.

It was raining last week as we shot the Fox promos. I pretty much had the market to myself. One vendor spoke to my heart. "Buy local" he shouted. "Support your local farmer!" Will do whenever I can.

Grandpa would be proud!

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Member Comments Total Comments: 9
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christianbearsly read my blog view my photos
Feb 2, 2008 | 8:04 AM

Yep! Farm markets are cool. When I wake up on time, I might be able to walk around & eat something before work. Long Beach farm Market is cool.

I do understand when you said that upstate N.Y. is no more as a home. For me, the small town in Ohio is no more, it is a huge supermarket and huge mall now, even Borders is there too. WOW!
dasvics read my blog view my photos
Feb 2, 2008 | 1:31 PM

Thanks for the info Christine, mmm..sounds so good..I’d love to go. I’ve never been to a farmers market, but it sounds awesome!
My family and I love fruits and vegetables and we try to purchase those grown in California, I usually check the labels to see it its California grown.
I shop at Stater Bros and I've noticed lately that a lot of the less expensive produce comes from other countries. For example: We love cherry tomatoes, the ones grown here where $3.50, but the ones grown elsewhere where $2.99. Do you have any idea why that is? I would think that produce from other countries would be more expensive being that it has to be brought here. I dont get it. But yes, we love to buy fresh produce grown locally and support our farmers at the same time. We’ll try to visit a farmers market, but I noticed that they’re in Los Angeles Co. too bad they don’t have any in I.E. We do have an organic store in Redlands though which is pretty cool, I wonder if their products are the same ones as the farmers market.
Media read my blog view my photos
Feb 2, 2008 | 2:19 PM

My plans for "Super Bowl Sunday" is the following: first I will go to church as usual.Then I will seek somewhere to go and dine at. Normally I am with a group and we just have a good time together. After that I will go home and get ready for about 15 people who love to come to my home and watch the Big Screen Flat TV in HD. Now residing in the Chicago area does not offer me the wonderful oportunity to go to a farmers market. In my city the farmers market starts around may and it is always on sunday. But I love all fruit and most veggies. I will have fruit around the house so that my guest can enjoy.Christine I grew up around farming as my Grandfather on my mother's side was the largest Black farmer in the county where He lived. In fact my Grand father invented a device for the soilbean that the federal government uses to this day.He had property in two states and was a millionaire thru farming.He died in 1991.With me coming from Mississippi I have experence about fruits and all of those kind of things.I know all about gardens and livestock too. I try to be health alert.No more of that work for me though.There is yet much land in the family on both sides but I don't care to farm.
mystere read my blog view my photos
Feb 3, 2008 | 4:56 AM

Hi Christine!

This blog is making me hungry (Har Har!). But seriously, I think the Farmers' Markets all around the Southland do a great service to all of us. If there is one thing I can think of, you can really learn a thing or two about fruits and vegetables when you go to a farmers' market. I have heard of some people who could not stand tomatoes sold at a regular grocery store becoming surprised when they tasted a vine ripe tomato at a farmers' market.
They were surprised at the night and day difference in tastes. A farmers' market can be very influential in one's eating habits.

Everyone: eat healthy!
Esau_Isaacson
Feb 3, 2008 | 6:22 AM

hi love, sorry to hear about your grandma. seems to me the farmers markets in los angeles are priced too high. the concept of a farmers market began as a spot where retail customers could grab fresh at wholesale prices. i walk the larchmont market on sunday mornings and i am distracted by the booth with the beating drums, the candlestick maker, and the queer soap seller. i spend not one cent! love you christine!
craftyguy read my blog
Feb 3, 2008 | 9:59 PM

I just went to Ralphs..Patriots still lost, the game sucked except for the last quarter ..with games like that who needs to be healthy?the only good greens you can get in this town anyway comes in the marijuana vending machines ..talk about organic..
Media read my blog view my photos
Feb 4, 2008 | 2:56 PM

craftyguy don't take it so hard. The patriots are still a great team man. They have a hold lot to be proud of. Hey anything can happen in sports. They are yet my team win or lose.Pound for pound they are yet the greatest to me.
So you eat healthy man and cheer up!!!
Market-Manager read my blog
Feb 4, 2008 | 11:28 PM

hello christine thank you for your support of farmers markets. i manage several farmers markets in the los angeles county, and i would love for you to come out and visit. sorry about your grandparents, i lost my grandma 5 years ago and my dad 2 years ago.
thanks,
Market Manager
Christine_Devine read my blog view my photos
Feb 8, 2008 | 11:23 PM

Christian - actually... the upstate NY home hasn't changed too much. They still have the volunteer fire dept. and no fast food chains. Not even a grocery store. It is no more for me since my grandparents passed away. I don't have much family left there anymore.

dasvics... I would bet the farmers have a market day in I.E. In fact, my orange vendor comes from Riverside. Maybe if you did a web-search. Or Market-Manager, can you answer to that?

Media... sounds like a GREAT day. Very cool info on your family. I have yet to invest in HD, so you wouldn't want to watch the game at my house. :-)

Mystere... that is true according to one of the news magazines. Fresh fruits can taste better.

Esau... you do have to shop around. Still, I'm sold on supporting local farms. I like the idea of the freshest produce. One news magazine did a big story on the environmental costs in shipping foods from great distances.(gas, airplane fuel) Plus, I love being outdoors and strolling by all the vendors who all offer something different. I can't make it to the farmers market every week, so perhaps I'll see you at the grocery store. Vons has a great sale on blueberries.

Craftguy... funny!

Market-Manager... any tips on shopping the farmers markets? any tips on getting good deals? Are you a Whole Foods or Trader Joe's fan?
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Christine_Devine

It has been my honor to work(anchor 10pm news) at Fox 11 news since 1990(yes, I started when I was 2!) Jokes aside, Fox 11 has allowed me to continue my passion for knowledge and education. My parents were both educators and stressed "knowing about our world." They were aid workers in Brazil(my heritage) and Africa and emphasized a caring for community. I love coming to work each day and being a part of "what's new." Fox 11 has allowed me to serve through our Wednesday's Child program. Our goal, to help children in foster care... who will end up on the streets at 18... find permanent safe homes. Through WC we are using the power and outreach of TV to find adoptive homes for children in GREAT need. My parents were foster parents and adopted one boy. I was adopted by my step-dad, which gave me the name "Devine." At home, I enjoying cooking and fitness. I have a new puppy for the first time since high school and am completely in love. (and with my fiance too!)

Member Since: 7/4/2006


 

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