Today we’d like to introduce you to Stacey Whitney.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Stacey. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My story begins right here in my hometown of Altadena, California, where, as a child, I learned to cook from my mother and grandmother. In high school, I would host friends, who were willing to help with my chores, in exchange for home-cooked meals.
As I grew older, my desire to see snow and “real” seasons led me to the Midwest, where I attended The Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago (CHIC – which is now Le Cordon Bleu) and earned an AA in Pastry and Baking. While in Chicago, I worked as a chef instructor with C-CAP – the Careers through Culinary Arts Program, which is a non-profit that provides culinary training and college scholarships to disadvantaged high school students throughout the Chicago-land area.
From Chicago, I relocated to Atlanta, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Culinary Management, and actively volunteered in my community, teaching cooking classes with a focus on healthy eating alternatives. There, I also started a small community garden, where I taught-garden-to-table recipes to the local food desert community. In Atlanta, I started a small non-profit wherein worked with disadvantaged women, providing free food safety certification training and gardening skills.
Upon returning to Los Angeles, I continued volunteering as a gardener and became a UC Certified Master Gardener. I also started a small catering business, specializing in pastries and private chef services. It was in this capacity that I met the previous owner of the Altadena Farmers’ Market, who knew my passion for food security, cooking, and sustainability. I asked if I’d like to “buy” the market. After a few months of contemplation, I realized that the market represents all the things I love, so I agreed. I currently also work as a school garden educator and private chef, in addition to running the market and volunteering as a Master Gardener.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
One of the biggest struggles is gaining the trust of this community. When I began, I sent out a survey to gain the pulse of the neighborhood. Come to find out, many felt that the market was too expensive for the average family. Others felt that there wasn’t enough produce, particularly organic produce, which is what they expected of a farmers’ market. And still others felt that the market was not inclusive of a diverse spectrum representative of the community.
So, we’ve been working to address these concerns, which isn’t easy but has resulted in a more positive response.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Altadena Farmers’ Market story. Tell us more about the business.
There are several things that set us apart from other markets:
We’ve partnered with Alta Pasa Green Circle to invest in zero waste initiatives. At the market, volunteers join us to distribute reusable plates, cups, and utensils for guests to use with our food vendors. Green Circle educates the community on sustainability. We also distribute free reusable tote bags, many of which were donated by Supervisor Barger’s office and Earth Junky.
We are located right at the foothills of the Angeles Crest Forest, at beautiful Loma Alta Park. The backdrop of the market is a breathtaking view of the mountains. The park has a beautiful grass holler, where families congregate to picnic and socialize.
We are sponsored by and adjacent to the Altadena Community Garden. We also have a garden plot at the community garden, where we teach garden lessons DURING the market.
Our market offers weekly chef demos led by renowned Chef Matthew Roberts.
For me, it’s like a weekly high school reunion, as I went to high school right down the street, at John Muir High School. Many of my old high school friends visit the market. It’s great!
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
There is no luck. There are blessings. There’s hard work. There are friends and community support.
Pricing:
- We accept EBT and offer Market Match up to $10 for EBT recipients
- We often offer FREE art, gardening and yoga lessons
- We distribute FREE reusable tote bags, as we move toward zero waste,
Contact Info:
- Address: 600 West Palm Street , Altadena, CA 91001
- Website: altadenafarmersmarket.com
- Phone: 626-733-6818
- Email: stacey@altadenafarmersmarket.
com - Instagram: altadenafm
- Facebook: Altadena Farmers’ Market
Image Credit:
Photos by Camille Stemmons
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