Will M.
Yelp
This is one of the greatest farmers markets ever. You can see the Hollywood Sign if you look north beyond the Walk of Fame. Parking is easy at 8 AM but a hassle after 9 AM. It's one of the great people watching spots in Hollywood, with people in their Sunday best, to sweat suits, pajamas, and ethnic outfits. There is fresh wild fish, great smelling and even better tasting food vendors, and crafts.
But the star is the produce. Some of it is organic. If you take the time to speak to the vendors, it's fascinating to hear the care they take to grow, deliver, and display their goods. Most pick their goods Saturday, and make their way to the market to arrive before it opens. Unlike the produce departments in your typical supermarkets, most vendors can tell you the variety of the produce they sell.
In late Spring they might have the rare sweet tart Santa Rosa plums or Green Gage plums in August. The melons you'll find in late summer include Ambrosia, Ogen developed in Israel, Hammi from Asia, and Charentais from France. The last time I was there in mid November, Arnett Farms was still selling several varieties of pluots and plums. I counted 10 vendors with citrus, including one from Ojai who was selling 3 varieties of tangerines, including the seedless Gold Nugget, mandarin type, and the very sweet Murcotts. There were about the same number of vendors selling 5 or so varieties of apples and grapes. They had both the Fuyu (eat crispy) and Hachiya (eat when soft) persimmons, The fruits I love most are the ones you rarely see in the supermarkets, like the creamy Sapote, aka Custard Apple native of South America. I also love the locally grown tropical guavas and Cherimoya.
I haven't even mentioned the vegetables, but the varieties are equally varied. During the last visit, I got 3 varieties of beets (Detroit Red, Striped Chiogga, and Golden beets). Lots of lettuces, leaf veggies like spinach and kale, etc. There were lots of pumpkins and winter squash like Buternit, butter cup, and Blue Hubbard..The one thing they don't have much of are Asian Veggies like they have at the Irvine Farmer's Market.
I actually live 45 miles away in the OC. But I come up here several times a season to find things I can't find anywhere else. Perhaps the only negative thing are the bathrooms, they're porta potties which I never use. I'm afraid I'd drop my wallet or cell phone in there! You have to put up with crowds, with an occasional whacko here and there. And as one yelper said, she is allergic to dogs and they don't seem to enforce the no dog rule.My secret is to get there at opening if you can. Parking is easier, selection is better, and the crowds thinner. Remember 5 servings of produce a day for better health. Organic would make that better.