Irvine’s Farmer’s Market

We began going when we moved to Irvine. Then, after a few weeks, they changed to rules to prohibit dogs! Overzealous health department regulations.

The crowds dropped. Dogs are welcome again!

IMG_4735

This was intended to be a vlog entry. Then I saw myself in the mirror. Never mind. I’ll type.

IMG_4743

Helaine and I went to Irvine’s farmer’s market. It runs year round in the Orange County Great Park, what used to be the massive El Toro Marine Air Station.

We began going when we moved to Irvine. Then, after a few weeks, they changed to rules to prohibit dogs! Overzealous health department regulations.

The crowds dropped. Dogs are welcome again!

IMG_4774

IMG_4764

IMG_4815

There are many reasons I enjoy this farmer’s market. All the produce stands give out samples. California fruits and veggies are very tasty.

IMG_4746

IMG_4744

IMG_4732

IMG_4723

Not far away are the food trucks. This has become quite the niche recently. Today we saw crepes, oven fired pizza, Mexican and a bunch of others. I had a caprese crepe with chipotle instead of the pesto they’d run out of. Yum!

IMG_4739

IMG_4740

IMG_4765

Then there are the dogs. Doppler gets plenty of quality sniffing time.

IMG_4730

The place is filled with little kids. Between birth and three or four, kids are 100% adorable. There are few teens and adolescents, plenty of pre-schoolers.

They like Doppler. The feeling is mutual.

IMG_4823

IMG_4753

This park is a huge space with lots of unusual installations, like a farm growing hydroponic organic vegetables on raised beds.

IMG_4798

IMG_4789

IMG_4801

Finally, we’ve got a balloon. It’s tethered and takes sightseers up 400 feet for a view of the area I still need to get!

IMG_4783

IMG_4782

IMG_4788

A Trip To The Farmers’ Market

Since we’ve been in SoCal (and probably a little before) we’ve heard about the Farmers’ Market held Sundays at the Orange County Great Park. The Great Park sits on what used to be El Toro Marine Corps Air Station.

It’s 1,400 acres, bigger than Central Park!

We were excited when we headed out this morning. Among other things, we’d read how the Farmers’ Market is dog friendly… and it was… until last weekend.

The health department says pups and food don’t go together. A citation was issued. A ban is now in place. That’s sad, especially when you consider most of what’s for sale was grown in close proximity to animals.

We kept Doppler off to the side and, with my Irvine cousins, explored the market section two-at-a-time.

It was magical. Lots of fresh fruit and other farm products. Lots of cut pieces to try and taste.

It’s good to come hungry.

Helaine came home with a bag of produce. It all looks beautiful.

Here’s a little slideshow with some of what we saw.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Blogger’s addendum: This is one post where I could use an editor! Is it Farmers Market, Farmer’s Market or, Farmers’ Market? All three are represented on the web. I’m going with plural possessive, “Farmers'” but I can’t be sure.