Delicious and nutritious

Hanna Suarez, Editor-in-Chief

November 2, 2011

Local farmers and shoppers gathered on Third Street in Downey to score deals on fresh goods at the weekly Farmers Market on Saturday, Oct. 15. Along with fresh fruit and vegetable vendors, there is a variety of food products including roasted peanuts, caramel apples, fish tacos, Mediterranean dishes, kettle corn and fresh breads.

One fruit stand from G Farms in Exita, California was receiving quite a bit of attention for their juicy green plums. The G Farms stand is at the market every weekend and it offers a wide variety of tree fruits like nectarines, peaches, and plums.

Another farm from central California, Yang’s Best Produce of Fresno, had market-goers excited about their fresh Asian produce. Some of the foods they offer include: Indian bitter melon—which resembles something like a cucumber with prominent spikes—juju beans, and crab apples.

“The vegetables are a lot fresher than market produce,” local resident Maurine Steward said, “here you know that it is fresh.”

In addition to food and snack stands, the Market offers a couple of musical attractions. A steel drummer sets up his instrument on one end of the street, while a Peruvian pan-flutist sets up his table on another end. At the center of the market a guitarist by the name of Russ, who has been living in Downey for twenty-two years, plays tunes from a selection of genres such as: medieval tunes, Irish tunes, blues, and soft rock.

“The Market is fifteen minutes away from my house so I come here every week and play from 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., nonstop,” the guitarist said.

The weekly Farmers Market is the ideal place to be whether you want to relax and grab a bite to eat or stock up on fresh and healthy produce. Regulars and long time Downey locals Heather and Kevin Kinsey make shopping at the market part of their weekly schedule.

“We come here every week and buy fruits and vegetables,” the couple stated, “they have some of the best stuff here. We usually come and eat the fish tacos too; they’re delicious and nutritious, the cook will tell you that himself!”

The Farmers Market on Third Street is held every Saturday morning so stop by and try tasty treats and pleasant music that Downey has to offer.

About the Contributor

Hanna Suarez, Editor-in-Chief

Hanna Suarez, Editor-in-Chief of The Downey Legend, stepped into the world of journalism as a junior, as she carried on the challenge of the Arts and Entertainment Editor as her first position. The young writer was hesitant when first applying to join the staff, and doubts of acceptance crossed her mind. “I was kind of scared to join,” Suarez said “I didn’t think I would be much good.” Nonetheless, the hopeful student took the risk and was happy when she received the news of being selected as A&E Editor. She quickly adapted to the hectic environment and filled the newspaper room with her humor, as well as adding a sense of warmth and kindness. After successfully filling her section editor position, Suarez did not fret when the opportunity of E.I.C. was presented to her. She quickly grabbed the new title, and felt confident taking on the new role that was attached to more responsibilities. “I felt capable of handling the job well,” Suarez said. The leader was comfortable being promoted to a more prestigious position, and held her ground. While college years are ahead of her, the student is savoring the moments she has left in high school, taking in her senior year and trying to make the most of it. The Downey Legend editor is an active member in the school marching band, playing the clarinet and euphonium. The senior also enjoys spending time reading while having 3^rd Street Coffee in hand, and listening to indie bands and artists such as The xx and Lana del Ray. Once she graduates, the ambitious writer hopes to build a successful career as E.I.C. of her own magazine, making newspaper a foundation for her future endeavors. She anticipates stepping foot into the real world, attending the USC Annenberg School of Communications or FIDM. The young and talented individual has prospered as a writer and leader; providing the staff with a model of success, she leaves big shoes to fill.