Farmers Market turns 75

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Two-fisted eating at Bennett’s Ice Cream. (Actually, he was holding the second cone for his mom while she pays.)

You’ve all been to the Farmers Market in L.A., right? Third and Fairfax? I certainly hope so, since you’ve had 75 years, as of today, to get there.

Yep, the Farmers Market opened on July 14, 1934, when 18 vendors parked their trucks on a large vacant lot that had been a dairy farm and an oil field. The market became a popular place and food stands sprouted, eventually rendering the farm part a rather small aspect compared to the international food offerings.

Today the market is somewhat overshadowed by the Grove shopping center next door, and I miss the days you could park for free on the acres of free asphalt. That was too good a deal to last, but at least the market survives. And the incursion of chains seems to have stopped at Johnny Rockets, Starbucks and Pinkberry.

Hearing about the anniversary — activities are planned today and Thursday; read more at www.farmersmarketla.com — I went to the market on Saturday with a friend. Busy as ever, it remains one of the great crossroads of L.A.

We split an oyster and shrimp po’boy from Gumbo Pot and a shrimp cocktail from Tusquella’s and got ice cream cones at Bennett’s. We also ogled the vintage toys at Shine Gallery, the imported and specialty groceries at Monsieur Marcel’s and the hot sauces at, well, whatever the hot sauce place is called. Oh, to have gone to Bob’s Doughnuts, Patsy’s Pizza, Bryan’s Barbecue, Singapore’s Banana Leaf and any number of other delectable eateries.

Do you have a favorite Farmers Market routine or memory?

* The LA Times wrote a long, very good feature on the Market.

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