Farm Fresh : Consumers can realize considerable savings at year-round farmer-direct markets.

Southern Californians are lucky to be able to buy locally grown farm-fresh fruits and vegetables all year. At some supermar ket produce departments, the produce sometimes looks like it’s been sitting in a warehouse for a week. But produce at farmer-direct markets is often picked the day you buy it.

At these outdoor markets, the farmer usually sets up shop on the back of a pickup truck, and the person handling your purchase is most likely the worker who grew and picked it.

Most of the farms are family-owned and operated. By eliminating the middle man, the consumer realizes an average savings of 20% to 30% off supermarket prices.

You’ll find vegetables, fruits, eggs, fish, nuts, honey and fresh-cut flowers all at the peak of their season. Rain or shine, the markets are open year-round. It’s a shopping excursion like no other--friendly, relaxed and filled with a festive atmosphere. Bring cash and a shopping bag.

Los Angeles County

Hollywood: Ivar Street between Hollywood Boulevard and Selma Avenue, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays. Los Angeles: 1432 W. Adams Blvd. at St. Agnes Catholic Church, 2 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays. Mission Hills: 14941 Devonshire St. between Woodman Avenue and Sepulveda Boulevard, 7 to 10 a.m. Saturdays. San Dimas: Frontier Village at San Dimas and Bonita avenues, 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays. Santa Monica: Arizona Avenue and 2nd Street, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays and 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays. Santa Monica: Cloverfield and Pico boulevards, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. Venice: Parking lot at Venice Boulevard and Pacific Avenue, 7 to 11 a.m. Fridays. West Hollywood: Plummer Park, 7377 Santa Monica Blvd., 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays.

Ventura County

Camarillo: Old Downtown, 2220 Ventura Blvd., 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturdays. Ojai: 236 W. Ojai Ave. parking lot, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays. Oxnard: Downtown at 7th and B streets, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays. Thousand Oaks: Janss Mall at Wilbur Road, 5 to 8 p.m. Thursdays. Ventura: Santa Clara and Figueroa streets, 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturdays.