This week marks the arrival of the autumnal equinox, which sadly means the end of summer.

But for shoppers at the Hollywood Farmers’ Market it also means a bounty of new seasonal fruit and produce items.

“This week we have the first picking of apples and pears,” said Suzanne Davik, who operates the Flora Bella Farms stand at the market.

Flora Bella Farms is a small certified organic farm located in Three Rivers and it’s owned by James Burch.

It’s a small farm and what it lacks quantity, it makes up in quality. I always try to make this one of my first stops because they sell out quickly of their flavorful produce items.

In addition to the apples, red and green Bartlett pears, Flora Bella Farms also has juicy Concord grapes. In the coming weeks, expect to find persimmons, pomegranates, potatoes and pumpkins.

Make sure to grab the last of its summer “Golden Nectar” plums. These plums are life-changing. 

I also found pears at Ha’s Apple Orchard. According to David Ha, the owner of the orchard, pears are the first items to be picked in autumn at his Oxnard farm. He also has late summer Italian purple plums that may be eaten fresh, or will later dry and turn into prunes.

Ha also has small French Mirabelle plums that are made into the wonderful Mirabelle digestive liquor in France. Mirabelle plums have a short growing season so make sure to try some of this specialty item before they disappear. It’s also last call for Ha’s delicious summer zucchini.

Do you want to take these specialty items or end of summer produce and learn how to preserve them for the winter months?

The Farmer’s Kitchen, the market-sponsored restaurant located on Ivar Avenue, offers classes in the art of canning and preserving. If you can't commit to a class, the restaurant sells canned goods like summer yellow tomato sauce, blueberry-rhubarb jam and a ginger marmalade that’s made with fresh ginger grown at Flora Bella Farms. More information may be found here.

You can taste more of the organic produce grown at Flora Bella Farms and other farmers at the market at an upcoming event on Oct 3. Chef Diep Tran, the owner of Good Girl Dinette in Highland Park, is hosting “Family Supper: A Celebration of Good Food and Community.”

It’s a benefit for the local chapter of Slow Food Los Angeles, a non profit organization that works to bring like-minded folk together who support organic and sustainability farming practices. It sounds like a fun event where you can eat great food with great people who share your love of shopping at the Hollywood Farmers’ Market. More information may be found at the organization’s website.

Please feel free to share stories and recipes of the items you find interesting at the market. If you see me strolling about, please say hello.

See you next week at the market!

The Hollywood Farmers Market is located at the intersection of Ivar and Selma avenues, between Sunset and Hollywood boulevards. Rain or shine, it is open every Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The market is a certified open-air street market with approximately 100 farmers, 30 local artisans and 40 baked-goods and prepared-food vendors who sell their products every Sunday. It is a direct-to-consumer marketplace with all produce and products from local, California vendors and growers.

Parking: Cinerama Dome: $3 for first two hours with validation available at the information booth at Ivar and DeLongpre avenues. Metered parking: Check parking enforcement signs. Some meters free until 11 a.m. on Sundays.

Dog Sitting: Only tagged assistance dogs are allowed at the market, but this shouldn’t stop others from walking their dogs to the public event. There’s a dog sitting service provided at the corner of Ivar and Vine streets. Your prized pooch will get to socialize with other dogs while you do your shopping at the market. It charges a small fee of $5 per 20 minutes.