Nearly 100,000 Visit Great Park Farmers Market

Groves Antiques Market among large and small vendors drawing visitors to the market, celebrating its one-year anniversary this weekend.

IRVINE – The Great Park Farmers Market celebrates its first anniversary this weekend by welcoming the popular Groves Antiques Market to the Park. Since its grand opening on October 31, 2010, nearly 100,000 people have come out to shop at the Great Park Farmers Market for fresh, locally-grown fruits and vegetables as well as gourmet foods such as honey, cheeses, olive oil, breads and sauces.

“The Great Park Farmers Market allows people to support local farmers while incorporating fresh, healthy produce into their meals,” said A.G. Kawamura, third-generation local farmer and founding partner of OC Produce LLC, operators of the Great Park Farm. “Shoppers can even buy same-day fresh produce grown here in the Park, just yards away at the Great Park Farm.”

The Market is operated by Orange County Farm Bureau, and when it opened a year ago, it averaged 40 to 50 produce and artisan vendors in its first weeks. Today, it has grown to 75 vendors each week and moved to an expanded location in the Park’s Picnic Meadow area. During the course of the year, the market has featured specialty food items, such as yams for Thanksgiving and strawberries for Valentine’s Day. In addition, it has showcased delicious fresh, locally-grown avocados and specialty Asian vegetables.

In addition to the Farmers Market, visitors can now also shop at the Groves Antique Market on the first Sunday of every month from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., starting November 6. The popular Orange County antiques, fine art and collectibles market has been relocated to the Great Park from its original home at Irvine Valley College. Visitors also regularly participate in special events at the Market such as TeamKids fundraisers, vintage car shows, and poetry readings.

To enhance the shopping experience, Farmers Market patrons are entertained by local bands and can have their pick of delicious foods from a rotating line-up of gourmet food trucks that frequent the market every week. The Great Food Truck Race on the Food Network even filmed at the Park during its first season.

The Orange County Great Park is located at Sand Canyon and Marine Way, and can easily be reached by the 5 or 405 freeways. The Great Park Farmers Market is open Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., rain or shine. For more information, visit www.ocgp.org or find the Farmers Market Facebook page at facebook.com/GreatParkFarmersMarket for updates on food trucks, vendors, entertainment and special events every Sunday. For more information about the Groves Antique Market, please call 949-486-5277.

About the Great Park
The Orange County Great Park, with its 1,347-acre master plan, is the focal point of the redevelopment of the publicly-owned portion of the 4,700-acre former Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro. The Great Park features an iconic tethered helium balloon that rises 400 feet in the air, providing an aerial view of Park development. Other features include the Carousel, Farm + Food Lab, Kids Rock Playground, Walkable Timeline, Palm Court Arts Complex, North Lawn recreation area and historic Hangar 244. The South Lawn lighted soccer fields and Community Garden will be added in 2012. For more information, please go to www.ocgp.org.