We had the good fortune of connecting with Oscar G De Leon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Oscar G, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
Over the past two decades, I have been involved with organizing certified farmers’ markets in the Inland Empire and Los Angeles County. These events enrich communities by providing a place where people can have access to farm fresh agricultural food items produced by local farmers, hand made foods and specialty foods by local entrepreneurs and hand made arts and crafts made and sold by local artists.

These markets promote healthy nutrition, support local businesses by attracting audiences to their shops, encourage families to go out and socialize and much more. All markets I organize accept EBT, offer Market Match of up to $15 of free fruits and vegetables as well as accept WIC.

A percentage of three farmers markets is shared with Local Hope, Partnerships for Self Reliance. These funds help support the needs for small villages in Guatemala.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Operating certified farmers markets may come across as an easy task, however there are various challenges that come with it. I have learned to work and communicate with diverse cultural groups, As a sole proprietor I have learned many aspects of operating a business, including learning to work with regulating agencies and community partners. I have learned and enforce industry policies and procedures. I gained skills in marketing/social media. I have learned to curate events in a fair and equitable manner. I have learned all about contracts, insurance policies, customer service and much more. What sets me apart I believe is that I approach everything with a tenacious spirit.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We love the LA scene. We would probably begin our adventure with visiting the Broad Museum. Scheduling a lunch Canter’s Delhi. Take the Metrolink train from Pomona to Downtown Los Angeles, Walk around Olivera Street. Go see a concert at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Too many fun things to mention.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I am an independent certified farmers market operator. However, each farmers market I have organized or currently operate have been requested and funded by different groups, including City of Riverside, County of Riverside, Local Hope and as of recent, the City of San Bernardino. Without these groups, each farmers market would not have even began their operations.

It is also important to mention that complicated and strenuous programs such as Market Match, could not be offered at all four markets without the help of Local Hope, who work closely with The Ecology Center to make sure that the funds are efficiently managed and distributed.

Market Match is a program of the Ecology Center and is funded in part through the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oscarxicara/

Image Credits
Oscar G De Leon

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