Los Angeles Wholesale Produce Market

Those who are willing to arrive early, hours before dawn are treated to the best bargains and best quality items at the Los Angeles Wholesale Produce Market. A lot of the produce available at the market is purchased by area stores and restaurants, providing the day's ingredients and merchandise fresh from the farm. The market is located in the heart of Los Angeles near the civic center. The market is set up in an industrial area that would be intimidating if not for the market. The market occupies about a city block and the action is through door entrances to the inner courtyard. The smell of fresh fruits and flowers often lures people in, long before they see the actual items. The market feature fluorescent lighting, bright enough to see any bruises on fruits or tears in flower petals. Visitors are treated to stacks of shelves, boxes, and counters, all filled with crisp vegetables, fruits bursting with fresh flavor, and freshly picked flowers. The market is filled with a wide variety of shoppers, from well-dressed business professionals, many of whom manage or own area restaurants, to individual market-goers, shopping for great prices on the week's groceries. Some of the stands feature owners who push their produce on you as you walk by and others sit back and allow you to come to them. Purchases at the market are made by the case. Products are not weighed and it is impossible to buy only one or two items.