by Frank Sabatini Jr.

The number of year-round farmers markets around San Diego County has nearly doubled in the past decade. And according to San Diego Farm Bureau Membership Manager Casey Anderson, the markets are attracting more vendors and more people are buying from them.

“One of the main reasons is that there is a large push for consumers to buy locally and reduce their carbon footprint. The majority of growers that you encounter at farmers markets are from San Diego County, so you won’t find produce that’s more local than that,” he says. In addition to the plethora of fruits and vegetables on the stands (mostly hand-picked within 24 hours of sale), today’s consumers enjoy the added bonus of shopping from open-air vendors selling specialty products. Among them: Scotch eggs in Hillcrest; fresh sea urchin in Little Italy; homemade sausages in North Park; artisan breads in Valley Center and Lakeside; and soaps and lotions made from goat’s milk, also at Valley Center.

Following is a list of local Farmers' Markets as of May 2009. Please check with The Farm Bureau for updated schedules of all farmers markets in San Diego County.

SUNDAY

Bonsall Certified Farmers’ Market and Open Air Faire
9:30 am - 1:30 pm
31555 Old River Road
Bonsall, California 92003
(760) 331-3985

Encinitas Certified Farmers’ Market
2 pm - 5 pm May-Sept
Flora Vista Elementary School, 1690 Wandering Road
Encinitas, California 92024
(760) 687-6453 

La Jolla Open Aire Market
9 am - 1 pm
Girard & Genter - SW corner of La Jolla Elementary School
La Jolla, California
(858) 454-1699

Leucadia/Encinitas Farmers’ Market and Art Fair
10 am - 2 pm
Paul Ecke Elementary 185 Union Street (cross street Vulcan)
Encinitas, California 92024 

(858) 272-7054

San Diego - Gaslamp - Third Ave Certified Farmers’ Market and Asian Bazaar
9 am - 1 pm
400 block of Third Ave between Island Ave & J Street
San Diego, California 92101 

(619) 279-0032

San Diego - Hillcrest
9 am - 1 pm
3960 Normal Street at Lincoln (Adjacent to the DMV)
San Diego, California 92103
(619)-237-1632

Solana Beach
2 pm - 5 pm
410 Cedros
Avenue @Rosa Street
Solana Beach, California 92075 

(858) 755-0444


TUESDAY

Coronado Certified Farmers’ Market
2:30 pm - 6 pm
1st & B - Ferry Landing
Coronado, California 92118
(760) 741-3763

Chula Vista - Otay Ranch Certified Farmers’ Market
4 pm - 8 pm
2015 Birch Rd and Eastlake Blvd.
Chula Vista, California 91915

(619) 656-1393 ext. 1030

Escondido Certified Farmers’ Market
4 pm - 7 pm May-Sept 

Grand & Juniper
Escondido, California 92025 

(760) 745-8877

Mira Mesa Farmers’ Market
3 pm - 7 pm
Mira Mesa High School 10510 Reagan Road
San Diego, CA 92126 

(858) 272-7054

WEDNESDAY

Carlsbad Village Farmers’ Market and Food Fair
1 pm - 5 pm

Roosevelt Street between Grand Avenue and Carlsbad Village Drive
Carlsbad, CA 92008
(760) 687-6453

National City Farmers’ Market
2 pm - 6 pm
At A Avenue between 7th Street and 8th Street
National City, CA 91950
(760) 745-3023

Ocean Beach Certified Farmers’ Market and Wednesday Night Out
4 pm - 8 pm (Summer)
4900 block of Newport Between Cable & Bacon
Ocean Beach, California
(619) 279-0032


San Marcos - Cal State San Marcos
3 pm - 7 pm
333 South Twin Oaks Valley Road, Parking Lot “B”
San Marcos, CA 92096-0001
(760) 745-3023

Santee
3 pm - 7 pm
10445 Mission Gorge Road
Santee, CA 92071

(619) 449-8427


THURSDAY

Chula Vista Farmers’ Market and Open Air Bazaar
3 pm - 7 pm
Downtown Chula Vista at Center Street and Third Avenue
Chula Vista, CA 91915 

(619) 422-1982

Lakeside Certified Farmers’ Market
2 pm - 6 pm
Lindo Lake County Park 9841 Vine Street
Lakeside, CA 92040

(619) 795-3363

Oceanside Certified Farmers’ Market & Faire
9 am - 1 pm
Pier View Way & Coast Hwy 101
Oceanside, CA 92054 

(619) 440-5027

Oceanside Sunset Market
5 pm - 9 pm
Tremont and Pier View Way
Oceanside, CA 92054 

(760) 754-4512

San Diego - Horton Square Certified Market
11 am - 3 pm (March - Oct)
225 Broadway South side of building (cross street Broadway Circle)
San Diego, CA 92101 

(760) 741-3763

San Diego - North Park Farmers’ Market and Open Air Bazaar
3:00 pm to Sunset (Spring/Summer)
3151 University Avenue CVS Pharmacy parking lot, University and 32nd Street
San Diego, CA 92104 

(619) 294-2501

FRIDAY

La Mesa Village Certified Farmers’ Market
3 pm - 6 pm
8300 block of Allison Avenue
La Mesa, CA 91941
(619) 440-5027

Rancho Bernardo Certified Farmers’ Market & Specialties
9 am - Noon
Bernardo Winery 13330 Paseo Del Verano Norte
San Diego, CA 92128 

(760) 500-1709

SATURDAY

Carlsbad Village Farmers’ Market and Food Fair
1 pm - 5 pm
Roosevelt Street between Grand Avenue and Carlsbad Village Drive
Carlsbad, CA 92008 
 

(760) 687-6453

Del Mar Farmers’ Market and Food Court
1 pm - 4 pm
1050 Camino Del Mar
Del Mar, California 92014 

(760) 727-1471

Pacific Beach Certified Farmers’ Market
8 am - Noon
4150 Mission Blvd.
Pacific Beach, CA 92109 

(760) 741-3763

Poway Farmers’ Market and Faire
8 am - 11:30 am
14134 Midland Road
Poway, CA 92074 

(858) 668-4576

San Diego - City Heights Market
9 am - 1 pm
Wightman Street Between Fairmount and 43rd Street
San Diego, CA 92125

(760) 745-3023

San Diego - East Village Farmers’ Market
9 am - 3 pm
8th & Market
San Diego, California 92101 

(619) 232-1480

San Diego - Little Italy Mercato
9 am - 1:30 pm
Date Street, Kettner to Union
San Diego, CA 92101 

(619) 233-3769

Scripps Ranch Farmers’ Market and Family Festival
9 am - 1 pm
Ellen Browing Scripps Elementary 11778 Cypress Canyon Road
San Diego, CA 92131 

(858) 586-7933


Vista
7:45 am - 11 am
325 S. Melrose Drive
Vista, California 92081 

(760) 945-7425