Talar Sarkissian
Staff Writer
The Claremont farmers market, which runs from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Sunday on Harvard Avenue, offers fresh produce, prepared foods, flowers, crafts and a lively community gathering spot.
On Sunday at the market, families pushed strollers, let their kids pick art pieces, snacked on fresh goodies, tasted local honey and schmoozed with friends and vendors as they picked their produce.
Among the vendors was beekeeper Joaquin Muñoz, who has been rescuing bees and making honey for over 20 years and has sold his honey at this market for the past decade.
“People have two choices when they find bees at home,” Muñoz said. “Call pest control or call the bee guys. We save the bees and move them to farms where they can pollinate. That’s how we started making honey.”
Marie Peckham, owner of the handmade soap business Unearth Malee, started her company when her daughter developed severe allergies. Unable to find suitable products, she created chemical-free, palm oil-free soaps for customers with sensitive skin.
“There wasn’t a Whole Foods around back then, and every cleanser we tried gave my daughter a reaction,” Peckham said. “I wanted something natural and sustainable. Plus, palm oil contributes to deforestation, and I didn’t want to be a part of that.”
For vendor Sylvia Alfaro of Fresco Pasta, selling fresh pasta and cheeses at the market has become a way to connect with the community. After building a customer base in Pasadena, she expanded her business to Claremont.
“Customers from Pasadena told me Claremont needed a pasta vendor,” Alfaro said. “When I came here, the community welcomed me, and now we’re also offering cheeses that have become really popular.”
For artist Helen Lee, selling her watercolor paintings at the market is a great way to share her work with the community. She started with pencils and pastels but later found her passion in watercolor.
Lee said selling art at a farmers market can be difficult compared to food vendors, who usually earn more, but budgeting keeps her business steady through slow periods.
“Ever since I was really small, I’ve wanted to be an artist,” Lee said. “The fun part is the drawing and painting. The business part is the record-keeping, receipts, and taxes.”
For Sarah Gusman, a freshman at Pomona College, the market offers a break and change of scenery from her Sunday study routine.
“Even if I don’t buy anything, just walking through it and the vibes and seeing everything makes for a very nice start to my morning,” Gusman said.
“I never see the Claremont Village as busy as it is when the Farmers Market is happening,” Gusman said. “It helps give smaller businesses a lot of promotion within the local community.”
Talar Sarkissian can be reached at talar.sarkissian@laverne.edu.
Talar Sarkissian is a sophomore communications major with a concentration in public relations. She is a staff writer for the Campus Times and is actively involved in marketing and media.
