Farmers

MONTROSE — In the months since imposing strict oversight measures that spurred allegations of embezzlement, the weekly Montrose farmers market has brought in more money so far than was expected for the entire year, according to a recent budget report. As of March 3, the market had brought in an average of roughly $600 per week and was forecast to lose $52,000 this year. Three months later, reported revenues jumped more than 500% to an average of $4,000 each week, according to a fiscal report prepared by the Montrose Shopping Park Assn., which operates the market.

Marshall Allen LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE -- The La Canada Flintridge City Council is lukewarm on the idea of a farmers' market coming to town. In a special meeting Monday night to discuss the issue, the council members agreed unanimously to pass the idea to the La Canada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce and Community Assn. If the chamber is interested in having a farmers' market, it can initiate it, Councilwoman Deborah Orlik said. The decision to pass the market idea on to the chamber was made in large part because of the recent decision by the Montrose Shopping Park Assn.

Karen S. Kim MONTROSE -- The Montrose Shopping Park Assn. is just a few steps away from finalizing plans to replace the terminated Montrose Family Festival with a farmers' market on Sundays. "We're just waiting for the contracts to be signed," said Lori Flagg, president of the association. "We're very pleased with what we think it will be." What it will be is an "upscale" farmers' market stretching one block on Honolulu Avenue between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Sundays starting April 7, Flagg said.

Karen S. Kim MONTROSE -- The Montrose Shopping Park Assn. on Thursday worked out the last perceived kink in its plans to replace the Montrose Family Festival with a farmers' market on Sundays. Members voted to hire Mark Sheridan as the manager, rather than the operator, of the market. The vote made way for Sheridan to sign the final contracts with the shopping park. Sheridan is the promoter of the Montecito farmers' market near Santa Barbara.

Janine Marnien Residents could buy fresh flowers and produce at a farmers' market as early as May, the executive director of the La Canada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce and Community Assn. said. A kickoff date for the first Saturday market is tentatively set for May 3, Schuyler Sprowles said. The market would be on the Beulah Drive extension, north of Foothill Boulevard. An informational meeting was held Monday with neighboring residents, who were pleased with the prospect of having a farmers' market within walking distance, Jennifer Rudisill said.

I want to take a moment to correct a notion inadvertently presented in your article "Council won't decide on farmers' market." You refer to Montrose as having ended "its farmers' market in November." The implication is that Montrose had a farmers' market and dropped it. I believe it is important to point out that Montrose, in actuality the Montrose Shopping Park Assn., did not cancel its farmers' market, because it did not have a farmers' market. What our association had for four years was a family festival.

I normally do not write letters to the editor. But the reader response in the Friday (Sept. 28) Community Forum, written by John Drayman of Montrose, skewers the truth. The truth is that the merchants who make up the Montrose Shopping Park Assn. made a unilateral decision to cancel the current contract with the management of this farmers' market/family festival because, as reported in last week's articles, the merchants were losing money. This is the root cause of their decision.

We're all real sorry to see the clown lady from the Montrose fair go away. As for her boss who ran the show, I hope he never comes back. As a longtime resident, I am looking forward to a real farmers' market in our village, free from pathetic-looking fruit that seems to only be in season in Montrose and Chile. So long, Montrose fair, with your garbage on our front lawns, congested parking, filthy, grime-stained streets, blazing amplified music on school nights, animal feces and wine smells that never go away, hot seething porta-toilets in the sun perfuming our local stores, choking clouds of smoke wrecking goods inside stores, junk vendors, swap meet merchandise, desecration of our war memorial, obnoxious sloppy employees ogling our children, and hordes of flies, ants and roaches working overtime on our sidewalks.

The weather may be warming, however the effects of the recent freeze lingers. During a visit last Saturday to the farmers' market in La Cañada shoppers may not have seen extreme effects of the agricultural devastation, but, according to growers, they will. "I have a lot of friends that have been devastated," said Rick Nickolas of Nickolas Farms. Nickolas sat behind his table at the La Cañada farmers' market on Saturday, cutting samples of oranges for his customers. His farm is in Orange Cove in Fresno County.

When former Councilman John Drayman didn't turn in money he collected from the Montrose Harvest Market on time, that should have been a warning sign that something was amiss, said an accountant who spoke to market officials about improving their financial practices. “Obviously, the fact that he didn't make deposits in a timely manner should have been a red light” even though Drayman was a trusted person, said Pasadena accountant Steven Fishman at the Montrose Shopping Park Assn.

The money keeps flowing in for the Montrose Shopping Park Assn., which for years had been plagued by revenue problems. For 2013, the organization that promotes nearly 200 businesses near and along Honolulu Avenue is forecasting income of $460,000 - $100,000 more than originally forecasted for 2012, according to data released on Thursday. By August, the organization had taken in $400,000, which is more than the $360,000 it had expected to make in 2012 when it presented a budget to the City Council last year.

A weekly farmers market is coming to Griffith Park at the Autry National Center , known for its museum of the American West. Across from the L.A. Zoo, Griffith Observatory Satellite and the Municipal Golf Course, the farmers market kicks off on Saturday, April 28, from 8 a.m. to noon, with about 16 local and organic farmers, including Tutti Frutti Farms, Underwood Family Farms and Avila & Sons Farms.  Food vendors such as Milkman Artisan...

After several shake-ups last year at the Montrose Harvest Market, more are coming. The market's craft and collectibles section is getting a new name and a new organizer. And all vendors will have to pay higher fees. The tweaks come after the Sunday farmers market underwent several changes last year to address violations issued by the Los Angeles County Agriculture Commissioner and Department of Public Health, as well as the fallout from an ongoing Glendale police embezzlement investigation involving former Councilman John Drayman.

As the Montrose Shopping Park Assn. lurches through a revamp among its leadership and possible changes at its popular farmers market, board members have unanimously agreed to give their executive director a 50% raise. The vote earlier this month increases the annual salary for Dale Dawson, who served on the board for many years before the group hired him as executive director a few years ago, from $12,000 to $18,000. Dawson said he deserved the raise, as his responsibilities have increased due to more park activities and the board separating itself from former City Councilman John Drayman, a one-time board member who often helped out when the association needed his aid. He often helped run the Sunday Montrose Harvest Market.

Antique, collectible and used book dealers may see their role at the Montrose Harvest Market change as organizers continue to push reforms and take stock of the event. The farmers market has undergone several changes in the past five months to address violations issued by the Los Angeles County Agriculturer Commissioner and Department of Public Health, as well as the fallout from an ongoing embezzlement investigation being carried out by Glendale police. But another change may be in the midst as the Montrose Shopping Park Assn.

Organizers of the farmers market in Montrose - already in hot water regarding sponsorship rules - have been told by public health officials to ratchet up efforts to keep animals out. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health issued a notice of violation to organizers of the Montrose Harvest Market last month after counting more than 12 dogs in the market, far above the number usually seen during a random inspection, said Scott Hunter,...

Organizers of the Montrose Harvest Market are working to bring themselves in compliance with state rules after they were notified this month that they've lacked the needed sponsorship for years. The state requires certified farmers markets to be sponsored by a government entity, a nonprofit group, or a grower, but the Montrose event, which has operated in its current form since 2002, lacks that backing. In exchange for the sponsorship, the state lets market vendors sell food without labels and packaging, which is required for other food sales.

One of the main proponents of an Altadena farmer's market says he is close to making that dream a reality.  Joseph Shuldiner, the foodie/ book designer /Renaissance man tells Altadenablog.com that "the market is a go-ahead! In fact I hope to launch the market this October. The Parks and Rec Dept and I are in contract negotiations right now, so as soon as that is signed I'll have much more to talk about. " The market will take place every Wednesday, from 3-7 PM at Loma Alta Park.

MONTROSE — In the months since imposing strict oversight measures that spurred allegations of embezzlement, the weekly Montrose farmers market has brought in more money so far than was expected for the entire year, according to a recent budget report. As of March 3, the market had brought in an average of roughly $600 per week and was forecast to lose $52,000 this year. Three months later, reported revenues jumped more than 500% to an average of $4,000 each week, according to a fiscal report prepared by the Montrose Shopping Park Assn., which operates the market.