Ramona Gardens public housing in Boyle Heights is rich with cultural history. This 500 unit community is home to over 1,700 people. Now residents can enjoy delicious food and other fresh food options thanks to the Housing Authority, the Los Angeles Police Department and other activists who helped vendors obtain proper licenses to operate as legitimate vendors. Previously, vendors received citations from the LAPD for selling without proper licenses. Sgt. Kenneth Edwards with LAPD’s Community Safety Partnership program spearheaded the process to legitimize the business owners at Ramona Gardens.
Interested sellers were guided through the process to become legal vendors at the market including how to maintain their business and follow health codes. According to a report by Feeding America, a nation-wide organization of food banks, Los Angeles County is the largest food insecure population with the largest population of food-insecure children as well. The Ramona Gardens market will allow residents with children to make affordable and healthy choices for their families.
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