First Fruits at the Wednesday Market

First Corn Spotted at Gloria's Farms' Stand

Crunchy, extremely tart peaches, but first seen at the Wednesday market

     There's nothing like the beginning of a new season when the year-long wait is over, and forgotten annual fruits and vegetables start popping up again for their once in a blue moon visit. One of the best places in the urban jungle of Los Angeles to actually see the seasons in action are the neighborhood farmers' markets.

     During the weekly Wednesday market located in Downtown Santa Monica, roughly at 2nd Street and Arizona Avenue, stone fruits are finally making an appearance. At one stand, an apricot cousin named "Apriums" release their buttery sweet fragrance.

     When asked about the hybrid status of the fruit, the man behind the stand spouts a long speech on the process of breeding and growing fruit, expressing his passion and expertise in the field, without actually ever answering the initial question.

     A few stands down, white peaches with dusky rose skins are piled into yellow bins. There's a bustling crowd around the stand, curious to smell, feel, and taste what hasn't been spotted in almost eight months. Tasters are in for an unpleasant, face scrunching surprise. These peaches are so tart, they make lemons seem as mild as potatoes. Even at $2 a pound, they're not ripe enough to tempt most shoppers.

At a local double-stand favorite, Gloria's Farms debuts their ever popular sweet white corn. Predictably, the ears and kernels are on the small side. But with one glance, their crunchy toothsome qualities cannot be denied. At $2 for three ears, their usual price, these corn are worth it to feature at a weekend barbeque to match the recent great weather.