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Community Corner

Celebrate the Fourth of July with Marcie’s Apple Pie

Santa Monica native and her family serves America's favorite pie, some of them vegan, at the Mar Vista Farmers' Market

Marcie’s Pies, made with fresh, local ingredients from Jimenez Family Farm, have arrived at the just in time for Independence Day festivities. Summer Fourth of July parties are as American as… well, Marcie’s Pies, but get them while you can—during the vendor’s first week at the market the pies sold out by 11 a.m.

Jimenez Family Farm, located in Santa Ynez, is family owned and operated.  Marcie was born and raised in Santa Monica, but moved to Santa Ynez when her parents bought the farm. Now she and her husband Gustavo live on that land and raise livestock while growing the luscious produce that fills the pies. 

Wylie, the ginger-haired salesman, has been working with the family farm for about a month. “Marcie is channeling some serious abundance,” he said, pointing to the baskets of colorful beets, rhubarb, strawberries, arugula and English shelling peas.  

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Jimenez grows most of the ingredients for the pies, and works with a local baker to craft delectable creations like Tri-Berry Crumble Pie, Blueberry Apple Pie, and the pie of the month: Strawberry Amaretto Macaroon.

Many of the pies are vegan, but the crumble-topped pies are made with butter. Marcie also offers a selection of pies with no sugar added. 

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As it says in their brochure, Jimenez Family Farm is “dedicated to growing crops and raising livestock with integrity, using organic practices in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way.” The owners strive to offer not only wonderful pies, fruits and vegetables, but also healthy cuts of meat from their menagerie of sheep, goats, rabbits and chickens. A posted sign shows what cuts you can buy each week at the market.   

Jimenez Family Farm participates in farmers’ markets from San Luis Obispo to Atwater Village. Pre-order preserves, pies and cuts of meat on the farm's website at jimenezfamilyfarm.com. Sign up for the Pie of the Month Club, which awards customers to a free sixth pie.

If your Independence Day gathering needs more than pie, pick up fresh berry preserves made with the same delicious berries. This season’s varieties are blueberry, blackberry, strawberry rhubarb, and strawberry jalapeño jams. A half-pint is $7 and full pints are $12.

There’s no better way to celebrate America than with pie. Take home any of Marcie’s small pies for $7 or large pies for $14, but shop early before they sell out.   

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