New Farmers Market to Include Small-Scale Backyard Farmers

The new Altadena Farmers Market that will start up on May 30 could include small-scale backyard farmers from Altadena who grow, and want to sell, small amounts of produce.

At Tuesday's Altadena Town Council meeting, market manager Joseph Shuldiner told the council his vision for the market.  He said he believes that Altadena can be the "epicenter" for a new food culture that includes community members getting involved with growing food as well as new restaurant scene.

To make that vision happen, Shuldiner has hired an "Assistant Secretary of Urban Farming," whose job will be to help small-scale growers get the necessary permits they would need to sell food at the market.

"I keep telling everyone that Altadena is the new Brooklyn," Shuldiner said.

The process is relatively simple, Shuldiner said, and involves a government inspection to be certain that a grower is actually growing the food at home.

The Assistant Secretary of Urban Farming, Elizabeth Bowman, also spoke at the meeting.  Bowman is studying for a master's degree in urban sustainability at Antioch University.  She will assist small growers in the process required to sell food at the market.

The market is even working to get around a , Shuldiner said.  Because selling the food at the market in Altadena would keep it within the quarantine, the state may allow the market to sell citrus from local producers, Shuldiner said.

The market is slated to start up on May 30 and will be held every week from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.  It is being , which helped Shuldiner launch the market during negotiations with the county.

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