Anisa Salazar
Sports Editor
The Claremont Farmers and Artisans Market is held every Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Claremont Village on Harvard Avenue, between First Street and Bonita Avenue.
The market is put on by The Claremont Forum, a nonprofit. This is the forum’s primary source of support for the Prison Library Project.
The Claremont Farmers Market tradition began more than 25 years ago by local farmers in the old Rhino Records parking lot in Claremont Village.
“This is what we consider a legacy market, it kind of runs itself,” Vice President of the Claremont Forum Sergio Perez said. “No advertisement, no Facebook, just people know about it, and because of the years we’ve been in operation, we have our regulars.”
Perez said that they are currently wanting to start up another farmer’s market at the University of La Verne. It would be under the Public Communities, LLC, which is an organization that focuses on building community spaces through markets, arts and educational programming.
“The La Verne Farmers Market would be under the Public Communities umbrella and the proceeds would benefit our nonprofit, which is to basically curate markets, curate kid zones and cultural events,” Perez said. “For La Verne in particular, we want to benefit the students.”
With roughly 50 vendors, both sides of Harvard Avenue are lined with tents for people to buy anything from fruit, vegetables and homemade treats to a stand where attendees can get their face painted.
Zealy Buggs, vendor at the market and owner of Z Spot, is an artist who is known for his portraits. He has been selling in Claremont for almost three years now, but has been participating in farmers markets for a total of eight years.
Buggs’ day job is in art, and then on weekends he devotes his time to the community. He likes the different energy that the Claremont Farmers Market brings, compared to other cities.
“Everyone’s doing exactly what they want to do, and has their own business…everyone’s happier, not so grimmed with the pressures that we face,” Buggs said. “They do, but they display nerve, more optimistically and more positively, which is really beautiful.”
A long-time vendor at the Claremont Farmers Market, Weiser Family Farms, also enjoys the community that the city has formed.
“Claremont is a closer community, everyone seems to know each other and they all come to the farmers market,” Sarah Maso, Weiser Family Farms vendor, said. “It’s also a college town… so it’s got a different environment because of that.”
While parents are buying their groceries from the farmers, there are also stands like Magical Moments owned by Olivia Fondijo, who offers the aforementioned face painting and hair tinsel installations for the kids to enjoy.
Patty Farms has been selling since the market first started about 25 years ago. Patty Morales’ husband started out selling at the market first to share what they were growing on their farm with the community.
Patty Farms sells seasonal flower bouquets they grow themselves from their farm.
“My husband is the one who grows them, and he really loves floristry and flowers,” Morales said. “From the very beginning, to then seeing them in people’s homes, … it’s rewarding to see the result of the work.”
Rain or shine, the market is packed with members of the community who enjoy supporting farmers, small businesses, and artists. The market contributes more than just the opportunity to go shopping; they give the community the opportunity for connection.
Visit the Claremont Farmers Market every Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. or apply to become a vendor at managemymarket.com/VendorRegister.aspx.
Anisa Salazar can be reached at anisa.salazar@laverne.edu.
Anisa Salazar is a senior communications major with a concentration in public relations. She is sports editor, social media editor and a staff photographer for the Campus Times. She previously served as a staff writer.
