Springtime abundance on display at Costa Mesa’s Certified Farmers Market

Springtime in Costa Mesa is in full bloom, and nowhere is that more apparent than at the Costa Mesa Certified Farmers Market on the O.C. fairgrounds where, on Thursday morning, stands were bursting with veritable rainbows of fresh produce.

For the past four decades, local shoppers have come out to the OC Fair & Event Center to stock up on fruits, vegetables and pantry staples from 37 area “certified producers.” On Thursday, traffic was redirected to the center’s Lot G, due to the opening of a vaccine site at the fairgrounds last week.

While local market shuttered temporarily in March of last year due to the pandemic, it was able to reopen to the public on June 18 as an essential food provider and operates each Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Shoppers explore the various vendors during the Farmers Market on Thursday at the O.C. fairgrounds.

(Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer)

Casey Anderson, chief executive for the O.C. Farm Bureau — which operates eight certified farmers markets countywide, including the Costa Mesa location — said customers and vendors are being asked to comply with coronavirus protocol during their visits.

In addition to practicing physical distancing and mask-wearing at all times, shoppers are prohibited from entering a market stall and handling produce directly and must make selections through the vendor.

It’s a small price to pay for being able to do one’s shopping outdoors in the sunshine and something customers have been willing to do, based on the increased traffic many markets have been experiencing since the pandemic began.

Face shields for sale from Monique’s Boutique during the Costa Mesa Farmers Market at the OC Fair & Event Center Thursday.

(Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer)

Anderson said some farmers markets have seen an increase in sales of from 50% to 100% in the past year as more people view outdoor markets as a safe and enjoyable form of shopping.

“It’s a place where you know you’re buying fresh fruits and vegetables directly from the farm,” he reasoned. “It’s actually been a little bit surprising seeing how the community has come out in even greater support for local farmers markets.”

Leticia Manuel arranges a display of frozen gluten-free tamales during the Farmers Market on Thursday at the O.C. fairgrounds.

(Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer)

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