Old Towne Orange To Host OC's Newest Farmers Market

Dave Lieberman

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Old Towne Orange, were you feeling left out? While Irvine boasts at least three farmers markets occurring throughout the week, the City of Orange has, to my knowledge, only one.  That gathering is held on Thursday afternoons at the 1500 E. Village Way between Katella & Lincoln avenues on Tustin Street, near Sears. 

Now there's going to be a second farmers market; and from what we've read, it sounds like it has its eye on eventually challenging the Saturday UC Irvine Farmers Market.

There will be about 20 booths hawking and array of locally grown fruits and veggies, specialty foods, and all the other stuff you expect.  But the organizers--which include the Memphis guys, Gabbi Patrick of Gabbi's Mexican Kitchen and Slow Food OC--plan to expand to 30 vendor booths over time, if permits allow.

The grand opening occurs on Saturday, May 7, 2011.  It runs from eight in the morn through noon at Chapman University's historic Villa Park Orchards Packinghouse parking lot located at the northwest corner of Cypress Street and Palm Avenue, and will continue to happen every Saturday until November, rain or shine.

At the inaugural event, Sodexo Services at Chapman University will pour free coffee and give out complimentary cake.  Here's more from the press release:

"Recyclable tote bags will be given out to the first 200 patrons. There will also be a raffle to win a giant "Market basket," and the opportunity to meet Orange Mayor Carolyn Cavecche and City Councilwoman Tita Smith at the ribbon cutting ceremony at 8:00 a.m."

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