Business & Tech
Toluca Lake Farmers Market Looks to Expand
The new management is hosting a relaunch event Sunday and wants to recruit more vendors.
The Toluca Lake Farmers Market is under new management that wants to double the number of vendors by early 2013.
Two months ago, local resident Jakob Jakobsen took over Scholastics Gardens, which oversees the weekly event by the Wells Fargo at 10225 Riverside Dr.
"The market can at least sustain 25-30 vendors, but our immediate goal is around 20 vendors," he said.
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With about eight to nine vendors, Jakobsen said the current farmers market is tiny and that he wants to bring in a larger mix of booths selling fresh produce as well as arts and crafts specialists.
Jakobsen said he plans to visit other markets in the area to recruit vendors, but added that five of them have already approached him with interest and will be in attendance Sunday at the relaunch event for the Toluca Lake Farmers Market.
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A public relations specialist for the healthcare industry who enjoys cooking and regularly attending farmers market, Jakobsen said he stepped into the picture when the previous owners of Scholastic Gardens wanted out to explore other business ventures.
"One of our objectives is creating a community destination where everybody from Toluca Lake and the surrounding areas would want to go and spend time and meet the neighbors, meet the community sort of speak," he said.
The relaunch event is being held on Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Here is the schedule of events so far:
10 a.m. - Mellisa Lanz from Fresh 20 will host a informational session on eating healthy and provide quick, easy and healthy tips and recipes. http://www.thefresh20.com
10:30 am - 11:15 a.m. - The Beat Buds Band will perform - http://www.thebeatbuds.com/
11 a.m. - Noon - Nutritionist, Katie Romey of Food Ception will host a Q & A with market shoppers.
All Day - MomAngeles.com is hosting a Sunday Funday at the market and offering their MomCard to parents who want to receive discounts on local mom centric businesses.
New vendors will be selling the various items:
Hand Sewn purses & Scarfs
Reuseable lunch sacks
Candles & Handmade soaps
Zookies kids products.
A massage therapist will also be on hand.
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