Orange Home Grown ready to debut new farmer’s market on campus

The old Villa Park Orchard packing plant on West Palm Avenue will once again be a hub of “green” activity beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday, May 7, when the local group Orange Home Grown hosts the grand opening of its Old Towne Orange Farmers and Artisans Market at the site.

In addition to vendors selling local, in-season produce and artisanal food products, the market will also host educational programs about healthy cooking and sustainable eating and make a couple booths available each week to other non-profits for showcasing their work and projects. Chapman University is donating the use of the lot for the weekly market.

Orange Home Grown is a group of Orange residents dedicated to sustainable living, healthy living and community involvement. Orange Home Grown board treasurer and Orange resident Betsy Elliott said that the group hopes to add more artisans that make jams, olive oils, avocado oils, salad dressings, rubs and other specialty food items. Read more about their plans for the market in the Orange County Register.

The market is scheduled to run from 8 a.m. to noon each Saturday through November, rain or shine.

For information about how to become a vendor, please contact the market manager Brandon Kunkle at 714.348.815 or brandonohg@gmail.com. For more information about Orange Home Grown, visit the group website.