Skip to main content

Where To Get Asian Vegetables From California Farms

Support Provided By
Veggies from Her Farms from the Santa Barbara Farmers Market
Veggies from Her Farms from the Santa Barbara Farmers Market

Asian vegetables are somewhat hard to come by at local farmer markets.

The demand is there and in recent years, we've seen a handful of farmers who specialize in Asian produce make their rounds down to Southern California. In fact, last year, a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program dedicated to Asian veggies launched in Los Angeles and the Orange County.

There's an abundance of variety at each of these farms. Selections range from chrysanthemum greens, bok choy, sher li hon, kohlrabi, mizuna, sweet yam, raining emperor heading mustard (yes, this is a vegetable), bamboo mustard leaf, ginger, and a ridiculously large selection of mustard greens perfect for pickling. While they're not certified organic, many of them are pesticide and chemical free.

Here, we've rounded up a list of farms and markets to get your weekly fix:

Beyond Bok Choy Farms
Beyond Bok Choy Farm is located in Fresno but owner Cha Her, a Hmong farmer, makes a weekly trip down to the Southland. The farm comes from simple beginnings; the entire operation started in Her's backyard. Demand rose, Her bought a larger piece of land, and it was officially turned into a business in 2000. Beyond Bok Choy Farm is a regular at the Harbor Area Farmers' Market. Long Beach Downtown Market, 475 The Promenade N, Long Beach, CA 90802. Fridays 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Purple beans from Her Farms
Purple beans from Her Farms

Her Farms
Cha Her (no relation to the Cha Her above) is another Hmong farmer based in central California. Born in the Laos, he immigrated to the States in 1979. He owns Her Farms, a 10-acre plot in Fresno free of pesticides and chemicals. You can find him in Marin County of Thursdays, Santa Barbara on Saturdays, and Montrose on Sundays. Santa Barbara Farmers' Market, Santa Barbara St and Cota St, Santa Barbara, CA 93120; Sunday 8:30 a.m. -1 p.m.

Brother Farm
Brother Farm is the newest addition to the Downtown Santa Ana Farmers' Market. They specialize in gai lan, a Chinese version of broccoli most commonly paired with oyster sauce, daikon, and green onions. Spinach, herbs, and tomatoes are also readily available. Santa Ana Farmers' Market. Spurgeon Promenade, N Spurgeon St & E 3rd St.Thursday 2:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Vegetables from Greenshower
Vegetables from Greenshower

Greenshower Organic Farm
Located in suburbia in the heart of Rowland Heights, Greenshower Farm is a humble two-acre plot with no more than a dozen people on staff. Marca Guo, a former bonsai nursery owner, had a vision of creating his own farm and started the pesticide-free company in 2008. "We wanted to target families in the area," Lisa Tai, the publicity manager of the farm said. They open their farm to the public during the weekends and in addition to freshly harvested produce, they also sell seedlings. They are in the process of getting certified as organic. Greenshower Organic Farm. 2040 Desire Ave., Rowland Heights, CA 91748. Saturday 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Mai Yang Farm
Based out of Sanger, Mai Yang is known for her sunchoke harvest and a selection of purple yams, bok chou, yu choy, and nappa cabbage. The Hmong family farm can be found at the Silver Lake Market or at the Melrose Place and Hollywood markets. Silver Lake Market, 3700 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90189. Tuesday 2:00 pm - 7:30 pm,
Saturday 8:00 am - 1:00 pm.

Roots CSA
If you live in Historic Filipino town, the San Gabriel Valley, or Orange County, consider Roots CSA. They're a non-profit dedicated to bringing organic produce to food deserts with a large Asian population. They provide the community with a curated selection of Asian produce from local farms. The price is $60 per season (three months) and pick-ups occur every other week. They source from Greenshower Organic Farm, Beyond Bok Choy Farms, and Her Farms.

Support Provided By
Read More
In “Obet and Del’s: The Coffee Shop Changing the Game in Hollywood” host Rosey Alvero sits down to talk with coffee shop owner Heather Knox.

Sip, Snack and Stroll Your Way Through Thai Town and East Hollywood (But First, Coffee)

Explore Thai Town and East Hollywood with all of its delicious, boozy and vintage offerings. But before you start wandering, charge up with a coffee from Obet & Del's, a neighborhood coffee haven serving up café drinks inspired by Southeast Asian culture.
In “Los Originales Tacos Árabes de Puebla: Trying the Secret Family Recipe” host Rosey Alvero carves a special blend of meats and spices on a roasting spit.

Get a Taste of the 'Secret Sauce' Behind Tacos Árabes, Plus Other Boyle Heights Flavors and Diverse Cultural Influences

Meet the generation of the Villegas family that's continuing the tradition of bringing Middle Eastern-influenced Mexican cuisine to Boyle Heights out of the Los Originales Tacos Árabes de Puebla food truck.
In "Alchemy Craft: Beers and Wine in Montebello" host Rosey Alvero makes signature cocktails and toasts Barney Santos from Alchemy Craft.

Mixology Magic at Alchemy Craft, Plus More to Experience in Montebello

When you're visiting Alchemy Craft in Montebello, featured in Episode 1 of Season 3 of the PBS SoCal Original digital series "SoCal Wanderer," you can also hit up the other vendors at the BLVD MRKT food hall where the craft cocktail bar is located. And if you go for Sunday brunch, you can also catch some lowriders cruising down Whittier Boulevard.