Irvine Farmer's Market (at the Great Park)

This was the last of the four markets I got to visit during my time in California. This was took place at the new Great Park in Irvine, California. The Great Park is on the former El Toro military base. They are turning it into a huge park. As of now they only have a few things in it to do. One of them is their Sunday farmer's market. It runs from 10am to 2pm, every Sunday. There are many vendors that selling their wares. I saw everything from citrus to honey to purses to even gourmet treats for your dog. There were many great choices for fresh produce. You can even buy strawberries grown right at the park, when in season. The only thing I bought was some oranges to take back to Michigan with me.

It was a very lively atmosphere when I was there. There was a guy singing songs about each vendors as we walked by. There were also several food trucks, waiting to serve you a gourmet lunch of a truck. One of them was Crepes Bonaparte, a participant in Food Network's "The Great Food Truck Race". Not far from the food trucks is the Farm & Food Lab. This is a series of gardens in raised beds all with a different theme, like "Pizza & Spaghetti garden". Make sure to check this place out during your visit. It bring inspiration to your own garden. For even more fun, nearby there is hot air balloon and a carousel for your riding pleasure.

The market is easy to get to off of Interstate 5. There are signs to direct you. Plus you can see the huge orange balloon from miles away. Parking can be kind of tight. We had to park quite a little ways away. It's not the best market to visit if your time is limited. But it is a great place to have some free family fun and come back with some fresh fruit & vegetables!

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Here is a complete list of what I purchased on Sunday, February 20, 2011:
Naval Oranges
Cara Cara Naval Oranges