Riviera Village Sunday Farmers Market

When:
September 25, 2016 @ 8:00 am
2016-09-25T08:00:00-07:00
2016-09-25T08:15:00-07:00
Where:
Riviera Village
S Catalina Ave & Avenida Del Norte
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
USA
Cost:
Free
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Ribbon Cutting for the New Sunday Riviera Village Farmers Market
We have secured the attendance of the Mayor Steve Aspel and Riviera Village Board Members for the Ribbon Cutting, Sunday, Aug. 28th, 12pm at the NEW Farmers Market.

Beginning July 10, the Riviera Village Farmers Market will move to the Triangle Parking Lot along S. Elena Avenue in Riviera Village on Sundays between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.

“It’s been a real struggle on Fridays, because it’s hard to get vendors in the afternoon,” said event coordinator Lee Ostendorf. “Friday night has just never really been the right time for a farmers market in Riviera Village.”

The city has two farmers markets. On Thursday mornings, an average of 900 people attend the market on George Freeth Way near Veterans Park. The current Riviera Village Farmers Market has struggled to cover its costs in recent years, according to a staff report.

The Riviera Village Business Improvement District proposed a relocation in 2015 to move the market to the triangle parking lot, and operate it on Thursday evenings. It ultimately did not move forward because both residents and businesses opposed closing parts of the parking lots.

Mike Ward, with Village Runner, said that on Sundays, parking in the parking lot is a lot more free.

“We’ve gotten a lot of good response for Sunday morning,” Ostendorf said.

Part of moving the day involves a bit of strategic peeling from other neighborhood farmer’s markets that are on Sundays. The Palos Verdes Farmers Market recently changed locations, said Chris Hatanelas, owner of Sacks on the Beach, who spoke at the council meeting. The group sees an opportunity to add vendors from their farmer’s market to the Riveria Village’s new location.

About 40 vendors are committed to the new location and day, Hatanelas said.

Dave Davenport, with Aris Natural Foods said that while the company may send someone to the new location, he wouldn’t necessarily be able to work it. His Sunday farmers market is located in Hollywood, and is a big money-maker. But he enjoys the atmosphere of the Redondo Beach Riviera Village Farmers Market.

“This is my favorite market,” he said.

Vesna Dean, who lives in the Hollywood Riviera in Torrance, is a regular shopper of the local farmer’s markets. She prefers to go every couple of days to buy fresh produce, and the Friday farmer’s market is a regular stop of hers.

“The smaller ones, I know the vendors,” she said. “We have our certain favorite people.”

She typically takes the day off on Sundays, which is the busiest day for most farmer’s markets. Ostendorf said that she’s hopeful the owners of the companies will be able to send another representative.

“It is an easier day to get vendors,” she said.

The City Council unanimously agreed at their May 17 meeting to move the farmer’s market to the new location.

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