After five years of struggling Cornucopia has been permitted to re-open its farmers market in Malibu.
Cornucopia is a nonprofit organization that strives to teach sustainable education to young students and adults.
To fund this education and further its environmental mission Cornucopia has opened a local farmers market in 2000.
However in 2005 Cornucopia lost its permit due to a zoning error by the city. A battle to acquire the permit again has been ongoing ever since. Co-founders Debra Bianco and Remy O’Neill along with the Cornucopia Board have spent the past five years trying to regain this permit from the City of Malibu.
The Planning Commission in a surprise move on June 16 removed Cornucopia from the scheduled agenda to allow Raw Inspirations a corporate 15-market chain to fill out an application for the same market permit.
Cornucopia won after the hearing took place Tuesday Sept. 15 at Malibu City Hall.
Both Cornucopia and Raw Inspirations were heard at the Planning Commission hearing. Hundreds of local residents gathered to show their support for either side.
More than 90 people attended on Cornucopia’s behalf with an array of colorful picket signs. Cornucopia had strong vocal support from many Malibu residents almost 60 local businesses Pepperdine students and and organizations such as realtors and teachers.
The Planning Commission questioned what appeared to be a conflict of interest between the supposed nonprofit Raw Inspiration and its sister for-profit corporation California Certified Farmers Market.
California law states that only local government agencies groups of certified farmers or nonprofit organizations can operate a farmers market.
While Raw Inspiration claims to be a nonprofit organization aiding in sustainable education and giving grants to elementary schools for environmental purposes many disputed that classification. With at least 15 farmers markets operating the sum total of their contributions to schools for the nine years they’ve been in business was only $44000.
One speaker challenged even the validity of these “school” grants since all the addresses of the grants coincide with business associations like the Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce and the Larchmon Boulevard Association.
At the conclusion of Tuesday’s four-and-a-half hour meeting the planning commission took a vote resulting in three yesses for Cornucopia and one no.
Therefore Cornucopia was picked to run the Malibu Farmers Market but it has not been confirmed when they will be open. Upon receiving approval from Los Angeles County the farmers market will be open on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Senior Rob Hashemi actively fought on behalf of Cornucopia. Hashemi is currently enrolled in Professor Andrei Duda’s service leadership class where each student is paired with a nonprofit to demonstrate their skills in whatever way the organization desires.
“I’m excited for the Malibu farmer’s market to reopen for both the students and residents of Malibu Hashemi said.
Pepperdine through the service leadership class program has partnered with a very good nonprofit and we were honored to be involved in lending our support.”
Hashemi emphasized the benefits students will have once the farmers market opens shop. Students will have the opportunity to have more fresh options close to home and they will be able to participate in organizing events and operations of the farmer’s market.
“This is an invaluable opportunity that would not have been possible if Raw Inspirations had taken the city permit.” “he said” “We can’t wait to get working on assisting Cornucopia to bring Malibu an outstanding farmers market.”