One big, happy market

THANK you so much for your thorough coverage of my favorite subject -- my local farmers markets [Special Issue: Farmers Markets, May 24]. I especially appreciate your story on Laurent Bonjour, a big part of the French “invasion” at the Culver City farmers market (and the advisor for the exquisite cheese plate I served recently to out-of-town visitors).

French is heard all over the market -- at the French wholesale bakery, the pasta stand, the asparagus and artichoke stand, the crepe stand and now at the granola and “best oatmeal cookies I’ve had at a market” stand. Oh, and the artisan chocolate stand. I’m too polite to ask, but how did we get so lucky? I spent part of my childhood in Belgium and this market most closely approximates that experience.

ELLEN O’DONNELL

Los Angeles

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I read with interest your story today on farmers markets [“The Idea That Shook the World” by Russ Parsons, May 24]. I remember as a child in the 1930s going with my mother to the farmers market in downtown Long Beach. It was around the perimeter of the park where the library is; the booths were set up and I remember walking around with my mother and a basket while she shopped for vegetables and fruit.

JOAN MACON

Anaheim