subject: How To Customize License Plates [print this page] The shouts of shopkeepers periodically echoed throughout the overcast sky, advertising to the morning shoppers, while foldout tables and huge tent canvasses supported and protected fresh products from the rain.
The Beverly Hills Civic Association hosted its second Beverly Hills Arts, Crafts and Farmers Market on Civic Circle in Beverly Hills. The market is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the first and third Friday of every month at 77 Civic Circle, Beverly Hills, regardless of weather.
Local growers, fishermen and designers sold everything from meat, seafood and produce to garden plants, homemade salsa and custom license plates.
Michael Wilmshurst, a vendor for the Florida Fresh Meat Company, grilled his organic, 100 percent grass-fed ground beef, attracting customers with his samples.
These farmers markets, Wilmshurst said, provide outlets for small family-run businesses who sell goods that are harvested locally and delivered locally, with a small carbon footprint.
In the seafood section, Thomas Cochran sold every imaginable Florida catch, including frog legs. His daughter, Emily, watched in amazement as he sold Bayport shrimp as big as an adults hand.
We fish at night and sell at day, Cochran said.
The produce area, owned by Missy Ezell and run by her family and Joy Wilson, was redolent of fresh and ripe veggies and fruits.
We get good produce and support our community, Wilson said.
Every bit of produce sold, including the spicy salsa and pickled medley, was harvested and made from foods grown by the farmers.
After 93 days of no rain and the sudden seven inches of rain, we buy anything from local farmers to help them out, Ezell said.
Mark Young of The Blooming Landscape Company, with his wife Ruby Young, who sells at the Inverness market, has expert knowledge of his rows upon rows of gorgeous local and exotic flowers. Mark gets his flowers from botanical garden shows, searching for any rare beauties to sell at markets.
Its a great market, Young said.
Dave and Eileen Kulcsar, owners of Out Front License Plates, have been making custom tags for individuals and organizations for five years. Their shop is one of many craft shops at the market.
Being at the market, Eileen said, is a nice way to get to know your neighbors in Beverly Hills.
Even shoppers like Karen Smith and Ginger Recanzone were not deterred by the morning rains.
This was our first time coming to the Beverly Hills farmers market, Smith said, and even though we were disappointed about the rain, were still coming back on Friday.
