Local residents braved a rainy Thursday afternoon to shop the inaugural Foothill Ranch Farmers Market, Lake Forest's only such outdoor market.
Foothill Ranch residents Jennifer Patalsky and Ellen Deber were among the customers that stopped by the inaugural market.
"This is very convenient," Patalsky said. "I'm glad they did it."
The shoppers browsed One Love Tea, a stand run by Foothill Ranch resident Joanna Minton. Minton has a shop by the same name in Laguna Beach.
"Since I live here, I thought it would be perfect," Minton said. "I think it'll be a successful market. I think it's needed. There's nothing else like this close."
Mandi Arquilla, an Irvine resident, stopped by the market after work.
"I just love farmers markets," she said. "I love when it's locally grown. It just tastes better than the supermarket."
Arquilla took home some pita bread and olives from Baba Foods.
Turnout was "really great" for the market's first day, especially considering the rain, said Flo Mudge, market manager.
Mudge, who was among the vendors at the market, sells homemade jams, jellies and brittle through her company, Edible Creations. She said additional vendors plan to join the market next week.
The farmers market is from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursdays in the Towne Centre Drive shopping center in Foothill Ranch.
