Last Saturday, our office’s Community Development intern team hit the road to visit the Irvine Farmers Market at Mariners Church. We met many local business leaders and “shopped local” to learn about the stories of people who power our economy. 

One business leader named Izi sold her own glassware and artwork from Izi’s Art. She had run her business for 15 years and just resumed after the pandemic had cut off her biggest client, 5-star hotels. She shared that her inspiration “comes from customers, from living in Southern California, going to the beach, and gardening, and from all kinds of places because ‘inspiration can come from anywhere.’” 

Wer-Mor Honey sells different types of honey, all raw and made from scratch. The farmers have run a 40-year-old family business and sold in the Irvine Farmers Market since the grandparents of the beekeepers we met ran the farm. “We encourage Irvine residents to shop at the farmers market to support local growers,” they shared. “We depend on farmers market sales for our livelihood.” 

Another business owner we met was Ely from Africa Eloup. He emigrated from Senegal and, as an immigrant of two years, he described some real challenges he had overcome to be there that day. “It’s a cultural shock to be an immigrant,” he said, “and you miss your family and friends.” But he expressed a lot of resilience. “When my work shut down due to COVID, I would call old customers, offer a discount, and stay afloat through repeat business.” He held a finance degree and a podiatrist’s license in Africa, but he has pursued the American Dream with his family and has contributed to Irvine’s small business community.

We also connected with a manager from Pupusas Salvadoreñas in Wilmington named Brian who would come to the farmers market for the community. “It’s student-friendly here, you see different faces and ethnicity groups…and you meet new people. You can form a bond.” After being in business for 5 years, their team has visited Irvine to make some money, provide good service, and diversify our culinary taste. 

We are very lucky to have met all these businesses! Other shops included Kantano Food, Organic Matcha, Chone Hot Sauce and Ian’s Farm. We encourage you to visit the Irvine Farmers’ Market in the future to enjoy delicacies from around the world. Councilmember Agran values the opportunity to make Irvine a global community.