The local farmer’s market in Laguna Niguel has experienced a strong start in 2024. The farmer’s market is open every Sunday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Plaza De La Paz shopping center.
There are usually two rows of tents that sell a variety of goods ranging from produce to pet food to handmade clothes. Many food stands offer samples and openly advertise to people walking by.
There are many different types of family-owned businesses that work here, such as a waffle business named Da Wa-Fulls. At the stand, the owner serves bite-sized samples to potential customers and advertises his waffles to be healthy, gluten free, grain free, dairy free, vegan, made with almond flour, and without added sugars. He explained that he started this business because as a parent, he wanted his children to have a nutritious and wholesome breakfast that was also tasty.
He also makes waffles at Ladera Ranch, but comes to the Laguna Niguel farmer’s market every Sunday. There is also a website, dawafulls.com, that details all the available options for people to buy.
An interesting story he told was that one of the nearby stands that sells almond butter actually bought his waffles and used it to make almond butter waffle samples for potential buyers. He emphasized how crucial it was for small businesses to support each other in the market.
Another notable business is Gourmet Tamales. It is also run by a family and they sell delicious homemade tamales. The woman who worked there was hired by the family, and she said that she started working three weeks ago, right when the new year started.
When asked about the logistics of setting up a farmer’s market stand, she confirmed that vendors would need to obtain a permit and that 20 percent of profits goes to the overall farmer’s market managers. She pointed out that many people are intimidated with starting their own business, but it actually isn’t that complicated. Although vendors do have to give 20 percent of their profits away, it is still possible to maintain a sustainable source of income.
Lastly, there is another family-run business named Chone that sells hot sauce.
The woman who owns the business explained, “Chone is a combination of the words ‘choice’ and ‘bonus.’ The name was originally ‘Chonus’ but we shortened it to ‘Chone.’”
She recalled that when she was in high school, the word “choice” was used to refer to something that people today might call “lit.” Making hot sauce started as a hobby 27 years ago for her, but it only became a real business seven years ago. She said that the secret to its strong flavor was its apple cider vinegar base mixed with onions and fresh vegetables.
Her family used to make hot sauce from the peppers they grew from their garden and it became extremely popular in their neighborhood, which inspired them to create a business. She emphasizes that there are no gums or binders in the formula, which means they only use quality ingredients. Because they do not cut costs for cheaper ingredients, it is difficult for them to sell in wholesale or mainstream grocery stores because they would not make enough profit to justify all the work required to do that.
Overall, the Laguna Niguel farmer’s market is full of hardworking and small family-owned businesses that are eager to provide quality goods and services to the local community. Not only do the businesses and customers benefit, but the connections and conversations made there are invaluable.
When asked about her recent visit, Mariam Taheri (12) says, “It was really fulfilling hearing people follow their passions, because it inspires me to follow my own.”
