Irvine Farmers Market a Feast for the Senses

The smell of flowers and food permeated the air, sitar music played and beautiful fresh vegetables and fruits gleamed in the sun Saturday at the Irvine Farmers Market.

Located across the street from the University of California, Irvine, campus at University Center, the market provides fresh groceries and fine artisan crafts every Saturday from 8 a.m. til noon—rain or shine.

Certified Farmers Market manager Trish Harrison coordinates four markets for the Orange County Farm Bureau. She said she "loves" her job of 13 years.

"I love all the people," she said. "I know so many customers on a first-name basis. We're like a family here. And you can't get this when you go into a grocery store...the tastes [of the samples] and the smells of the market."

The Irvine Farmers Market lends a hand to farmers of small California "mom and pop" farms, Harrison said.

Shopper Susan Wampler was among those walking around the market Saturday, clutching a bouquet of fresh purple flowers.

She gets all of her fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers every week at the Irvine market, she said. She loves the atmosphere of the market and she chats with many of the vendors whom she has come to know.

"The produce here is much more fresh than what you can get at the grocery store," Wampler said. "I see a lot of my friends here. It's a great place to come on a Saturday morning."

Vendor Deseree Burjakowsky has been selling her Autumn Rain line of jewelry at the outdoor market for 10 years. The gold, silver and glass used in her sustainable jewelry is recycled.

"About 80 percent of my customers are repeat customers," Burjakowsky said Saturday. "We've become a family. I know if my customers' kids play soccer or where their kids went to college. We have a great, trusting relationship."

Shoppers Sandy and Reene Iyer said they like the freshness and variety of the products. And they enjoy spending "quality time" together at the market.

"By coming here, you get farm fresh, better tasting fruits and vegetables," Sandy Iyer said Saturday. "And this place has just great atmosphere."

"Everyone is eating fresh and going lean," said Reene Iyer. "This is a good place to get farm fresh produce. Bringing your kids here encourages them to try different things."

Dan Sarinana, another vendor, sells hot sauce locally manufactured by Triple H Foods in Riverside. On Saturday, he was handing out samples for customers to try.

"I'm a people person and I love the people at the market," Sarinana said. "It's nice being outdoors, too."

Emily Nordhoff, a customer who tried the hot sauce samples, said the green jalepeño flavor is her favorite. It was Nordhoff's first time at the Irvine Farmers Market.

"I think the market's great...especially with products like this," she said.

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