Name(s)?
Richard and Martha

Where do you live?
Kendall!!

How long have you lived in the area?
30+ years

Where are you originally from and what brought you to town?
Martha was born in Cuba; Rich was born in Jacksonville but his parents were both from Bolivia.

Please share about what you do for a livelihood or what keeps you busy during the week?
We both work in the Real Estate industry. Martha is a Managing Broker for Douglas Elliman and is also a recognized trainer. Rich is a Realtor, also with Douglas Elliman, working in both the residential and commercial markets.

How often do you come to the market?
EVERY Sunday!

What’s your favorite thing to buy at LNB Grovestand and why?
The smoothies and the turmeric tonic. Whatever Walt & Adena say that the turmeric juice does, we believe it! We also went through a Jack Fruit phase that lasted almost a whole year…might have to do that again.

A+W: Jack fruit season is almost over but we froze a lot for our Jackson smoothie.

What’s your favorite thing to buy at other stands at the market?
We hit Pawsitively for Smokey’s treats and the bone broth. Then it’s the vegetables for the week, acai bowl for lunch and when we want to cheat, a sandwich from Babe Froman (Can hardly wait until their store opens! They are promising duck croquetas….!)

A+W: We are so excited too. We’ve tasted the duck croquetas and they are amazing!

I wish the market had:
PAELLA!!! What happened to those guys!!!?? Or the conch fritters!!! What happened to those guys??!! Pinecrest Farmers Market  has to bring them back!

Favorite market story:
Once Martha and our daughter Sara went with Smokey. As they were eating their Acai bowls, somehow Smokey managed to wiggle free of his harness – expecting the worst, they ran looking for him…only to find him sitting obediently at the Pawsitively booth…waiting for a treat!

Most-frequented local restaurants and what dish to order:
We have celebrated all our important moments at El Secreto. Luis and Dover always go over the top for us!

What’s the area’s best-kept secret?
We think South Dade is the best kept secret. Many of the vendors – fruits and veggies – come from Redlands and Homestead etc. Rich is part of the More to Explore Working Group. The goal is to bring awareness and interest to the South Dade area that is south of Kendall. Pinecrest Gardens Farmers Market would not exist without South Dade!

A worthy splurge:
Travel! Martha has scheduled trips or planned trips through summer of 2018. Colombia is on the list as is Spain. Any advice from the readers?

The most romantic spot around:
May not be on any Top 10 romantic list, but Hollywood beach was our first weekend getaway as a couple. It is a very special memory for us – but we can make just about any spot romantic…

Do you participate in any community or philanthropic events that you would like to share?
Martha chairs the philanthropic efforts of the Douglas Elliman office. St. Jude’s is a beneficiary of this group through Team Victoria. Victoria is the daughter of one of the colleagues at Douglas Elliman. Her courage has been a true inspiration.

Do you own your own business or offer a service? Would you share a pitch about yourself or company with the community?
We consider ourselves to be a community resource. For example, some of our clients are lawyers, financial advisors & title companies who ask us for market information to help them advise their customers. And from those relationships we are extended the opportunity to provide realtor services for them. Resource and service – first and foremost.

Is there a question that you would like to ask the LNBs?
Well to the LNBs and the vendor community – could they share special or interesting recipes using the items they sell? We’ve been inspired to make our own salsa and have used the pasta sauce in various ways. But have you considered a collection of recipes? (We’ve collected the reader’s recipes and am looking forward to making the vegetable lasagna from the first interview!)

A+W: That’s a great idea. This week we made a delicious pasta sauce with avocado, basil, lemon juice, garlic, and Parmesan. Blend together and toss with pasta! It tastes like a rich Alfredo sauce but it’s light and healthy.

If you would like readers to be able to contact you, how should they get in touch?
We are very easy to reach and would love to meet other Farmer’s Market folks. Martha can be reached at martha.pomares@elliman.com and Rich can be reached at richdia@gmail.com.