South Pasadena Farmers Market

The inspiration

The South Pasadena Farmers Market opened in 1999, originally sponsored by the Mission West Assn., a local business group¹ . When that organization disbanded, the city sought bids, and the South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce took over operation in 2010¹ . The idea behind it is simple: bring certified, California-grown produce straight from farms to a walkable city, building a sustainable local economy² .

Who's behind it

The market is run by the nonprofit South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce under a contract with the city^2,3,1 .

What to order

• Tamales from Tamale Treats & More: a family business since the market's early days in the 2000s, offering grilled chicken, pork and vegetarian versions .⁴
• Granola and shortbread cookies from Star Sky Granola: all vegan, organic and gluten-free, with double chocolate and berry granola among the popular picks .⁴
• Fresh pasta from Fresco Pasta: a prepared-food stall the market lists alongside its farm stands .⁴
• Honey from Bill's Bees: a Lake View Terrace vendor selling honey, bee pollen and soaps .⁵

What people are saying

LA Mag, after talking with vendors, found the answer to what sets the market apart was consistently the people⁴ .