Mar Vista Farmers' Market Celebrates Five Years

Hands frantically tore at corn husks as the stopwatch wound down and onlookers chanted, "Shuck, shuck, shuck!"

Elsewhere at the , vendor and pie baking competition judge Laurent Triqueneaux served up pieces of pie made with market-bought fruits.

With its country-like, old-fashioned feel and homegrown stamp of approval, the market celebrated its fifth anniversary Sunday with such activities as musical performances and potato sack races.

“Wow! We’re already here,” said manager Diana Rodgers, noting that the now-robust venue has become a “transient town square.”

A handmade sign announcing “Hug Yer Councilman” hung from the edge of a table, stating a cost of $5 for a hug. The day's proceeds from the booth benefited the Learning Garden and Culinary Arts and Sustainable Agriculture Academy at . 

But the Los Angeles city councilman in question, Bill Rosendahl, said he tends to give out hugs for free.

“Where’s the mob scene?” Rosendahl joked upon arrival. 

He hasn’t been part of too many hugging booths himself, but Rosendahl said he is strongly pro-hug, adding that the gesture is a way he likes to connect with people.

Dorothy Garven approached the councilman asking for a kiss on the cheek. She got one.

“It was a very councilman-like kiss ... whatever that means,” Garven said, laughing. 

Garven, a 41-year resident of Mar Vista, has been coming regularly to the market since it opened in August 2006. The market has helped Mar Vista more strongly define its identity in recent years, which includes a sense of green consciousness, Garven said. 

Rosendahl was one of those who lent his support to the market in its initial stages. Today, he calls it “community at its positive best.”

The judges of the market’s first-ever pie baking contest included Rita Di Dionisio, market vendor and owner of Gourmet Catering By Rita; Triqueneaux, of Bistro Laurent in Culver City; and Lorraine Wells of the Mar Vista Farmers' Market board.

Seven entries, including strawberry and mixed lime, sat on the table. The judges brandished forks and took bites from a piece of each pie while making notes in colored ink on small notepads. 

“Do you need any more judges?” Cindy McQuade of Santa Monica called out during the taste-testing.

It was McQuade’s first time at the Mar Vista market. She came exclusively to see the pie baking contest, but the overall atmosphere charmed her. McQuade said she now plans to open up her Sunday mornings to come more often.

Nate Aldrich, the emcee with a megaphone, carried on a giggle-inducing commentary throughout the competition. This included plenty of friendly sparring with Triqueneaux.

“If you don’t like the judges’ decision, we can turn this into a pie-throwing contest,” Aldrich said.

Kristi Gehring’s blueberry basil cream pie scored the top marks. The judges collectively praised it as “perfect.”

Gehring went away with bragging rights, a brand-new Mar Vista Farmers' Market apron and an envelope of gift certificates.

The day ended with a corn-shucking competition. One victor was Culver City resident and Santa Monica dentist Anthony Guerrero, who shucked eight pieces of corn in one minute. 

“Good hand skills,” he said.

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