South Central Farmers said that on Friday Sept. 18 Mayor Villaraigosa would need to sign an ordinance changing the way the City assesses fees to "Special Events", including local certified Farmers' Markets.

Farmers Markets would no longer be eligible for fee waivers, only Special Event fee subsidies. I don't know about you guys, but I just don't see the people that sell me fruit and vegetables making much money at this point to be getting taxed extra. And certainly I am not worried about passing the cost on to me, but the vendor just deciding it's not worth any more to drive five hours from Bakersfield to South Los Angeles on a Saturday morning.

No matter the outcome, its time to let people know how much you appreciate access to fresh produce at least once a week and at very reasonable.... And here in the University Park area there are about six within a mile (check the list on the University Park Family homepage).

Speaking of the Farmers Markets, there's a movement afoot to attract major supermarkets to South and East Los Angeles and the northeast San Fernando Valley, according to the" target="_blank"> LA Times. "Even some liquor stores, long the bane of inner-city neighborhoods, have begu..., reports Teresa Watanabe.

We shouldn't have to live in a food desert.

While the new F.A.M.E. Church Farmers Market got a lot of love this weekend from the LA Times (it was also the first time I had ever seen it),
I'm planning to visit the Vermont and Adams Farmers Market on Wednesday from 12 to 3 and the one at the Expo Center at Menlo and King on Thursday from 3 to 5. It's so easy to eat healthy.

The Expo Center sells produce naturally grown in the middle of this metropolis, grown in your NEIGHBORHOOD. No pesticides or chemical sprays and low prices.

Expo Center / CSU Produce Stand is every Thursdays from 3 to 5 p.m. at 3980 Menlo Ave. at Martin Luther King Blvd. in front of the pool.

But wait there's more. You can sign up to get a back of whatever goodies are available for a low price as well.

And still more - you can help grow the fruit and veggies yourself every Tuesday from noon to 3 p.m.

Call CSU Farmer (323) 299-7075 for this FREE opportunity of a lifetime.

“From the Ground Up,” all generations - from pre-school youth to
Senior Citizens-all are invited to take part in growing and maintaining EXPO
Center’s very own mini-urban farm. Community Services Unlimited (CSU), a
nonprofit that is committed to cultivating urban farms in South LA, has
partnered with EXPO Center in the creation of this garden program."

The mini-urban farm is now in its fourth year of operation.

For more info contact: Neelam Sharma, CSU Director, at (323) 299-7075.