Rachel Dunn

At The Shoppes on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m., local business owners open their shops in anticipation for customers to come and try their products. “[Heritage Farmers Market] is amazing to just network with other vendors of the community. And I just think it’s an awesome location,” Theresa White of Mama Ts Baking said.

Every Wednesday at 3:30 p.m., business owners scramble to get the numerous parts of their business prepared to set up their stands. Once opened, floods of customers periodically arrive throughout the afternoon to buy from their favorite local shops, along with trying new ones. This event is a great way to bring the community together through their shared interests in local businesses. Residents of Chino Hills flock to these stands to help support small markets because of the unique products that are offered; whether it be handcrafted jewelry, locally sourced honey, or homemade hand soaps, Heritage Farmers Market has it all. With their chain of markets stretching across multiple cities, The Shoppes never fails to attract lots of shoppers to their weekly farmers market.

“The Shoppes is a really busy destination, so we do get a lot of traffic through the Shoppes,” market system assistants Leticia Gallarzo and Marisa Acunta said.  

As The Shoppes is a popular attraction for both locals and bypassers, the convenience of the location makes the farmers market even more attractive for customers. The business owners themselves are also often locals. Many grew up in Chino Hills or a nearby city, giving them connections to start their business at Heritage Farmers Market. Jenkins Peppers is a perfect example of this; their company aims to sell high quality sauces, spices, and rubs for the public to enjoy. The business owner was a local himself, who grew up in a nearby area.

“I grew up in the Chino, Ontario area [and] I really like it,” the owner said. “I recognize a lot of people, so I like the community and coming down and talking to people. It seems like a really good group of people here.”

The owner’s company, along with many others, attracts a lot of customers because they are located in the heart of the city. At The Shoppes, there are many attractions that bring in unsuspecting customers. It is common for people to not know that the farmers market is happening on the day that they come to The Shoppes, though when they realize, people often walk over to check out the products that are being offered.

“The Shoppes naturally brings a lot of people here just because we all go to the Shoppes anyways. Some food places are also attracting customers to the market. Even if people are not buying anything, it’s always nice to see a lot of people and make it look more alive,” the owner said.

Along with convenience, the Chino Hills farmers market is a great opportunity to network with people from the community. Buying from these shops gives business owners and customers a chance to learn about each other, possibly building work or social connections. Theressa White from Mama T’s Baking, a macaron shop, loves The Shoppes location because of the opportunities for both her and the customers there.

“It’s amazing to just network with other vendors of the community and I just think it’s an awesome location,” White said.

Business owners from Heritage Farmers Market also have a genuine love for their products. Their desire to share their items with the community keeps them coming back to their job with a smile on their face. Businesses are frequently giving out product recommendations based on their personal favorites, enticing customers to come back.

“I’m getting to share my macarons with others who enjoy it,” White said. “Customers love my products as much as I do because they’re really good. My favorite is the brown butter pecan and caramel apple.”

With Ayala High School having a close proximity to The Shoppes, Heritage Farmers Market gains extra traction after school. Students like to grab food with their friends while adults like to buy fresh produce as they wait to pick up their children from school.

“We do have a lot of adults coming, but we do get a lot of traffic between like 3-4 p.m. from the school as well. They mostly purchase our refrescos, which sells fresh juices or waters. We noticed that the high school students mostly like those,” Gallarzo and Acunta said.

If you ever have the chance to stop by The Shoppes on a Wednesday afternoon, be sure to check out Heritage Farmers market! Business owners offer a wide variety of products and love to see support from their community!