Farmers Market

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.

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...

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,...

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.

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.

Gary Moskowitz SOUTHEAST GLENDALE -- Senior citizens in Glendale are getting a helping hand from the Los Angeles Area Agency on Aging this summer. Glendale residents who are 60 or older may obtain $20 in Farmers Market coupons Monday through Friday until August at the Adult Recreation Center at 201 E. Colorado St., at Maple Park at 820 Maple St., and at Sparr Heights Senior Center at 1613 Glencoe Way. To show eligibility for the coupons, which are provided one time only through the Senior Nutritional Meals Program Center, you must fill out a registration card with the program and eat at least one meal at the center.

Roughly 500 seniors from throughout the San Fernando Valley converged Thursday on the farmers market on Brand Boulevard armed with state-issued vouchers to buy fresh produce, creating near gridlock on the sidewalk as vendors worked feverishly to fill orders. The seniors were bused in from throughout the valley as part of an effort to get them to use their vouchers before they expire Nov. 30, as the San Fernando Valley Interfaith Coalition tries to double its state allotment to 2,400 vouchers for the next yearly cycle, which starts in December.

Marshall Allen La Canada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce officials are near to finalizing an agreement that would bring a farmers' market to the city in the fall. "I'm 90% confident we're going to go forward with this thing," board President Sheila Cook said. "By this time next week we'll probably be able to say it's a definite." While he couldn't disclose the location of the proposed farmers' market until the deal is complete, chamber of commerce Executive Director Schuyler Sprowles said it will be centralized in the La Canada Flintridge business community on Foothill Boulevard.

Ryan Carter A weekend farmers' market in downtown Glendale began Sunday, with a dozen vendors offering everything from Asian vegetables to strawberries. It started small, to ensure a decent day of sales. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. vendors offered produce in the 200 block of North Brand Boulevard. But after Sunday, organizers hope it will be a year-round boon for weekend business in the downtown district. "There's a lot of businesses that are closed on Sundays, and certain locations that have gone out of business," said the market's organizer, Edward Antonino, president of Southern California Certified Farmers Market, which runs the Sunday event.

Marshall Allen LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE -- The La Canada Flintridge City Council passed on its first opportunity to discuss a farmers' market, but now it might get another chance. The council decided on Feb. 4 to let the La Canada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce and Community Assn. pursue bringing a farmers' market to town. The chamber pursued a high-end, old-world European-style produce market, and had an eight-week pilot project approved by the Public Works and Traffic Commission on May 15. The project would be on a portion of La Canada Boulevard north of Foothill Boulevard and adjacent to Memorial Park.

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.

John Drayman's connection to a number of investigations - federal and local - continued to make headlines this year, keeping the former city councilman in the spotlight long after he lost his seat on the dais in April. Investigations into his ties with an affordable housing developer accused of massive fraud and his alleged role in embezzlement of funds from the local farmers market dominated the news cycle this year - a fall-from-grace story that left his voter base in North Glendale bristling.

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.  Glendale police are investigating embezzlement allegations brought by the board against Drayman, but have declined to comment on the investigation.

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.

Two long-time board members for the Montrose Shopping Park Assn., which is trying to reboot after allegations of embezzlement and other issues, announced they will not seek reelection, clearing the way for fresh blood on the leadership bench.   Montrose Shopping Park Assn.Treasurer Maureen Palacios and President Alyce Russell  announced Thursday they will not be running for reelection this month, making it one of the first times both incumbents have bowed out of a race. Five newcomers are running for the open seats, a large candidate pool for the oft-ignored election, members said.

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.

For the first time in years, leaders of the Montrose Shopping Park Assn. face a potential shake-up as other business owners - upset with the handling of the weekly farmers market and other issues - begin staking out more active roles. “People are getting more involved because they want progress,” said Sebu Chatoyan, owner of the Clothing Market. The first test will be next month, when two of the association board members - President Alyce Russell and Treasurer Maureen Palacios - could face challengers in seeking reelection.

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.