John Sweredoski helps customers at the Echo Park Farmers' Market

I wrote briefly about this yesterday on our sister blog, Atwater Village Now, in my article titled “Local Farmers Markets May Be Affected by Hollywood Dispute.” In the article, I write about a dispute between Sustainable Economic Enterprises of Los Angeles (SEE-LA), which runs many LA area Farmers’ Markets, and a company leasing its parking lot to the Hollywood Farmers’ Market on Sundays.

SEE-LA is concerned the loss of the parking lot will “displace” 150 vendors and will total a loss of about $130,000. This loss could affect other farmers’ markets under SEE-LA, the fear of shut-down of markets including Watts, Crenshaw, South Central, Echo Park, East Hollywood and Atwater Village.

The SEE-LA website recently posted more information about the dispute and how you can help. Please visit the website or read the information below:

We need your assistance to keep the Hollywood Farmers’ Market at its current location, where it has been for nearly 20 years. We will update this web page with new information about this breaking issue and the latest instructions for how you can help.

Under pressure from an adjacent business owner, City authorities have decided to revoke the legal authority to close Ivar Avenue on Sunday mornings which SEE-LA, the nonprofit operator of the Hollywood Farmers Market, has used for the past 19 years to serve up to 10,000 people every Sunday.

If the City follows through, most of the Sunday market vendors on Ivar Avenue between Selma Ave. and Sunset Blvd. – about 1/2 of the farmers – could be denied space to operate, or may be shifted to a new, not-yet-determined location less convenient or less safe than their current placement.

This action also jeopardizes the viability of SEE-LA, itself, and the 7 other farmers’ markets, major nutrition education program and Farmer-to-School program it operates throughout the City of Los Angeles.

Sign a New Petition if Necessary
Thank you to everyone who signed the petition and who helped publicize it. We gathered over 3,400 signatures in one day! The first round of petitions have been handed in, although we may do another round if necessary. We will let everyone know if there is another signing.

Spread the Word
Let other people know that the Hollywood Farmers’ Market needs their help. Encourage other people to sign up for our email announcements and stay tuned.

Keep Up-To-Date
Sign up for our email list, if you haven’t already. And check back here for new announcements and updates on what is happening.

Thank you for your support!

UPDATE:

LAist reports that interested parties met on Monday to resolve the issue of street closures and property access for the Hollywood Farmers’ Market. While it first seemed that the LA Film School would allow to continue access through January 9 in order to allow the city time to conduct studies on a new layout of the market, as it turned out the school will not allow continued access (we’re still unclear as to why exactly). Continue reading about this issue on LAist.