The City Market & Chinese Suburbia

Historical records show that by the 1930s, almost eighty percent of the produce consumed in Los Angeles was grown and distributed by Chinese residents. It is no surprise that one of the first labor disputes in the city occurred when officials raised food taxes, forcing the Chinese community to organize and threaten to boycott the distributors of fruits and vegetables. By that time, much of the produce was handled in the main City Market, established in 1903 and virtually run by Chinese entrepreneurs. The booming business of City Market (off San Pedro Street) as well as the pending destruction of Old Chinatown caused relocation for many Chinese to East Adams - a mixed race neighborhood in town - creating what many considered to be the first Chinese suburb in Los Angeles.