LANCASTER – The City of Lancaster’s Tapestry Commission, in collaboration with the BLVD Association, will celebrate Cinco de Mayo with special festivities at the BLVD Farmers’ Market on Thursday, May 2.
At that time, the Farmers’ Market will also switch to its summer schedule – Thursdays from 4 to 9 p.m.
In the United States, Cinco de Mayo is observed as a celebration of Latino heritage and pride. Next week’s Farmers’ Market will feature live entertainment on the Bex Stage, including Latin music.
Attendees are encouraged to stop by the City booth where they can receive information regarding Cinco de Mayo and Mexican Independence Day, as well as delicious Mexican recipes utilizing some of the fresh fruits and vegetables available at the Market.
In addition, attendees can visit the BLVD businesses which are participating in the celebration.
The Human Relations Tapestry Commission, formed at the request of Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris, focuses on bringing together various groups, cultures and individuals throughout the City.
The BLVD Farmers’ Market is held year-round on Thursdays in downtown Lancaster, along The BLVD between Date Avenue and Fig Avenue. It currently includes more than 25 vendors, and regularly expands to more than 50 vendors each summer. Products offered at the Farmers’ Market include fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as a variety of delicious foods including delectable desserts, fresh baked breads, goat cheese, fresh honey, unique salsas and sauces and prepared foods such as Greek and Latin cuisine.
The BLVD Farmers’ Market also features unique gifts and accessories for sale, such as one-of-a-kind handmade jewelry, hand-woven baskets, customized dog tags and more.
For more information regarding The BLVD Farmers’ Market, call 661-723-6077. For more information regarding the Tapestry Commission, visit www.cityoflancasterca.org/tapestry.
–
Nikolas says
Folks, it appears that some of you don’t quite understand farming nearly as much as you think you do. If you live local in the A.V., and you have your own garden, you’d know this as well: many vegetables CANNOT be grown in the Antelope Valley during the “winter” months due to the subfreezing temperatures we have here. You can rule out anything that is frost/freeze sensitive, like tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and DOZENS of other popular varieties of veggies.
The only way around this is to grow the veggies in heated greenhouses AS WELL AS to supply additional light to boost crop yields (yet another additional cost…).
So yes, if you want your “local” tomatoes in January, those tomatoes are going to have to come from Orange County, Ventura County, or San Diego County, etc. Locales that don’t have to worry about frost/freeze.
Michael Rives says
If people are having trouble going to the market,how about AVTA running a schuttle bus between Avenue L and 20th St. W down to Valley Central Way to Lancaster Blvd ending at Avenue 10 St W. It would end near the senior apts and the route would include Ralph’s,Albertson’s, Walmart, 99 cents store, and Food 4 Less markets.
sikntired says
I guess you never had to ride a bus with bags of groceries.Not easy even if you’re young, extremely difficult if you are older or infirm.Needs to be something in the area besides Vallarta.
This is also going to be true of the new Palmdale apartments /townhouses and is true of the senior housing area in Palmdale.Wonder why the developers of these projects don’t consider these things.Corner liquor stores don’t answer the problem either.
Michael Rives says
Riding a bus with a couple of bags of groceries is a lot better than pushing one those cheap shopping carts you can get at some markets. Been there, done that. It also is easier than get ripped off at a liquor or convenience store.
Michael Rives says
A smart cop will let a suspect talk all day because eventually the truth will come out. I read one of the posts stating that the produce at the Lancaster Farmer’s Market is from the Produce Mart in Downtown LA (and is marked up considerably and sold to us right from the farm.) If this is true, it is fresh from the farm via the brokers at the Produce Mart. This a fraud, if true. People buy the stuff on the BLVD thinking it is directly from the farm. As one post stated, if I wanted to buy this stuff, I would go to the supermarket. I agree.
Nik says
The produce sold is of decent quality, I have not had a problem with what I’ve bought in the past, although I no longer go. There is never anything new or all that interesting. When advertisers write that it’s “local” or “locally grown”, Local can be a 100 mile radius! The fact that the produce is sitting out all day is no bother either because any farmers market you go to, IN THE WORLD!, will have produce outside. It’s grown outside isn’t it? So what’s the big deal? Not everything needs to be refrigerated anyways. I usually shop at Ben’s Corner, not sure how “really local” their produce is either but the customer service is always up to par as well as thier produce. You also know the money is staying local because Ben’s has been around for a very long time, who knows how local the vendors at the BLVD are!
Once a farmer says
I have been to the Farmer’s Market three times. Initially I had had the understanding that the vendors would be local farmers etc. Each time I have attended, I have seen very few if any “local” farmers. These vendors come from mostly Los Angeles, buying their produce at the produce markets and reselling them as “farm fresh”. I realize that this valley may have few options as to what can be raised and sold at this market, but if I want produce from the L.A. produce market, I’ll go to the supermarket where I know the health code is enforced. And have you noticed that there seems to be price fixing between vendors on the same items? There is no special deal here folks.. keep moving..
William says
Just as I suspected about the venders buying their stuff in LA.
Nothing is ever how it appears in Lancaster or how it’s advertised.
Mr. Mister says
To be fair, pretty much all fruits and veggies sit out in the heat all day during the majority of their lifespan. It’s not like they have meat out in the heat. For the most part, all the proprietors give free samples too, not something any corporate grocer promotes, save costco. And they are small business owners, as opposed to the corporate grocers who praise and protect their GMOs. And they do allow outside food and drink to address your thirst problem. I do agree it can improve though. There are hundreds of outlets on the BLVD to where they can plug in a fridge or some sort of cooling system. For the most part, at least it somewhat brings the community together.
ms t says
I agree with you. It is something fun and an excuse for people to actually get out an walk around and support small business owners. It’s not some big conspiracy.
Patricia says
I live in this area, I have been to the farmer’s market and I would not buy any of the food, with the wind that blows down the Blvd and how old the vegetables look I would not risk eating the food. I am fortunate to have a car and not rely on the bus system, I also have family who have taken me to the market when I have not been able to drive due to shoulder surgery.
Michael Rives says
are not any normal stores
Michael Rives says
The veggies and fruit lie around in the heat all day. The cost is prohibited. Pray you don’t get thirsty or you will pay for your life for a drink. There any normal stores to shop at, etc. We can do better than this.
sikntired says
Why do you suppose that is, with the number of apartments in the area and the number of handicapped and elderly. How do people get groceries there, they’d have to travel all the way to Ave I at least.Not good.
xina says
I agree!! I’ve been saying that for quite sometime! The people who live around that area would definitely benefit from SOME type of corner market or Fresh n’ Easy. Maybe the mayor thinks that if he approves that, then it would take away business from the restaurants? I dont know.
sikntired says
yeah,but probably a food 4 less would be better since most in that area are on very fixed incomes.I think it might be the inability for them to attract a major food chain to the area although they would have a lot of shoppers .Hard to understand why that
would not have been part of the plan when they decided to build all that housing .