Dahlia Orellana cooled down with aguas frescas as she walked through rows of food and produce vendors on a hot Thursday afternoon in City Terrace.
She was with her husband and young son, and ran into neighbors along the way.
Orellana was among the Eastside residents who on July 18 attended the grand opening of the first-ever farmers market in City Terrace. Hosted by the nonprofit In the Making, the 323 Farmers Market featured music, dancers, and more than 30 vendors from across the Eastside.
Photo by Carol Martinez.
Photo by Carol Martinez.
Orellana, who lives in City Terrace, said it made her happy seeing booths of fresh produce and local businesses that benefit her community.
“I think it’s wonderful, our community could definitely use being exposed to healthy food and being exposed to locally grown food,” said Orellana, 37.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis was there and presented the organizers a $125,000 check in support of the farmers market.
“For the first time, we have fresh vegetables here and things that you can cook at home, many things that make up our traditional table. You don’t have to go to the Super or somewhere else outside of the boundary, now you can come and shop on a Thursday,” Solis said.
Access to groceries goes a long way since the foods that people prepare at home are generally healthier than those consumed at restaurants, according to a 2023 USC study.
The study — which looked at the Eastside neighborhoods of El Sereno, Lincoln Heights, City Terrace, and Boyle Heights — found that of the more than 55,000 households, 13% have no access to grocery stores within a 15-minute walk. In interviews, researchers found that residents complained of limited access to affordable, high-quality groceries and that local stores sold low-quality and limited healthy foods.
From the location of the 323 Farmers Market, some of the closest grocery stores are Superior Grocers and Food 4 Less. It would be a 33-minute walk or a 13-minute ride on public transit to get to Superior Grocers, and a nearly 50-minute walk or a 30-minute ride via public transit to go to Food 4 Less.
Among the vendors at the market were Compton Farms USA and H&A Farms.
Juan Ibarra, works alongside his cousin at H&A Farms, in their family business based in Santa Maria in the Central Coast.
“We’re here to support the community with what we can, bringing fresh fruits and vegetables for the City Terrace community,” Ibarra said.
For El Sereno resident Vanessa Gutierrez, 30, who runs El Sereno Night Market and her small business Mas Amor Boutique, the market was a “historical moment.”
“Especially in our community, because we are such a food desert. We don’t have access to organic local produce and the fact that it’s now in our brown community, I think it is super impactful,” Gutierrez said.
“I think it’s going to be a win-win for everyone,” Gutierrez said.
The 323 Farmers Market will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. every Thursday at City Terrace Dr. between Hazard and Miller avenues.
Learn more about food deserts:
The struggle for healthy options in lower-income communities
As communities grapple with the pressing issue, advocates and policymakers seek solutions to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to make healthy food choices
Thank you for the City Terrace Farmers Market feature store. The first summer farmers market was organized by Gloria Chavez, City Terrace Coordinating Council and co sponsored by Supervisor Gloria Molina.