Just Chill and Sell

Irvine’s weekly Farmers Market drew constant footsteps of customers while the atmosphere was not too boisterous but peaceful. About 10 people entered the market as the other 10 left the market. Yet, all is not as it seems.

Only 12 vans are parked sparsely at the parking lot in front of the Pacific Amphitheatre Box Office at the Orange County Fair& Event Center. Right next to the Farmers Market are The Burnt Truck, Cousins Maine Lobster and The Grilled Cheese Truck getting ready to cook as the buyers take off from their cars. Jack FM’s radio station truck with “playing what we want” motto written on it with the big bacon image breaks the silence by playing Jump by Van Halen. The iconic synthesizer riff at the beginning of the Jump vitalized the whole atmosphere of the farmers market and the food trucks.

“About 1,000 people come and go through out the day,” said Marissa Toma, 27, seller of the kettle

corns. The market hits its mini heights as the flow of mostly regulars enter the market consistently. Compared to the sizes of other markets, the Farmers Market in Costa Mesa is mid-sized but the size does not matter when there is the power of the warm humanity among the people.

Every Thursdays from 9 am to 1 pm, OC Farmers market is a chance to experience the direct exchange of mostly food products between California farmers or even backyard growers and the customers. In this not so big market, only about 28 booths are represented, selling various products ranging from fruits to flower pots. What’s special about this market is the bonding and interaction of the sellers and the buyers.

Lala’s Kitchen and Kettle Corn shop were under the same tent and those two vendors formed a special bonding under the tent. “We began talking since we started sharing the same tent but now we talk all the time and share our new creations! They are super nice and cool,” Toma said.

Lala’s kitchen sells gyros and healthy smoothies right next to the Kettle Corn shop.

“Tumeric smoothie has little bit of beet, ginger, and all sorts of healthy ingredients with no sugar added. Those are good for inflammation and immune system and this guy added beans too because he knows I like beans,” said David Perry, 60, the 1st time buyer at the fair ground. He is a regular customer of Lala’s Kitchen so he followed it when he heard it moved to Costa Mesa.

Millicent’s Preserves & Madison’s Favorites owner, Tim McCormack, joked around with another seller of The Raw Vegetables right next to his booth. He had the greatest sociability and made fun of vendors around him.

“The sellers here need to get a yearly health permit to sell their products but this guy will not get one!” McCormack said with a loud laugh. This friendly, award winning jam seller had lots to say about his story.

McCormack explained that he got his story because he married his wife, Brittany, when they met 20 years ago.

“I first saw her in Virginia while I worked at the peach farm. She was riding on a tractor and I told myself, that’s gonna be my wife!” he said.

The joviality persists despite the shortage of customers. Footsteps of buyers stop occasionally but the chit chatter among those farmers do not.

The usual pattern of visitors, seem to be eating at the food truck first and then look around the farmers market starting from the first booth.

Workers, mothers, fathers, grandmothers, grandfathers all come to visit the market and even the students.

“My mom became friend with the avocado oil seller and she even went to the massage shop with her. And I go to Orange County College so I just come here to eat Chinese BBQ pork slider in the Burnt Truck,” said Aaron Lee, 20.

The time was approaching 1 o’clock and another interesting phenomenon happens. All sellers are helping each other to clean up their booths with joy and warmth. Rivalry does not exist anywhere here in the farmers market.

The farmers will return next Thursday with fresher vegetables and with a warmer laughter.

All photos by Jabin Koo