[dropcap size=big]I[/dropcap]n one of the toughest years filled with fear and anxiety, Rick Dominguez, an East Los Angeles native, by way of Nayarit, Mexico achieved his dream of opening up two produce shops. One in East Hollywood off Virgil Avenue, and the second and newest resides at the highly esteemed Original Farmers Market at 3rd and Fairfax.
Rick’s journey into farming began by chance. After graduating from Schurr High School in Montebello, he began working in real estate. But once the financial crisis hit in 2007, he decided to leave his profession to support a friend who had just purchased a farm. In order to make ends meet, Rick began helping his friend by learning the basics of farming and selling avocados and other produce at the East Hollywood farmers market. “Back in 2007, I didn’t even know what a farmers market was, for me it was a swap meet but with produce,” Rick tells L.A. TACO.
Within the span of six years, Rick gained a vast amount of experience and knowledge about the production of produce. His interest and dedication to cultivation and farming flourished. He began building a wide network of clients, both retail and commercial, and eventually, all of his hustle led him to excitedly purchase his own farm in Fallbrook, CA in 2013.
In 2017, Rick’s success took one more step forward after meeting his now business partner, Alejandro Verduzco on an Uber drive. Alejandro picked Rick up for an Uber ride from East Los Angeles to Pomona. In the 45 minute car ride, Alejandro learned that Rick was a farmer, and coming from the restaurant industry as a chef himself, he began sharing advice and ideas. Rick shared that he initially had no interest in opening a store. Then, he was happy to simply farm and work the land while doing the weekly farmers market circuit, selling the produce he grew with love to communities around southern California. But Alejandro, a native Boyle Heights resident, pushed him to take the next step, “The support of someone I trusted was important, we’re from the same ‘hoods, and this motivated me more to progress. We both had the same view, to be better and help out the community.”