San Diego Farmers Market Guide
Find out what farmers markets are available in San Diego County Monday through Sunday.
$40 at the Poway Farmers Market
With over a million households in San Diego County, if each one committed to spending just $40 each month at their local farmers’ market, it would equate to over $500 million in support of small-scale, local businesses each year. This year I’m exploring a new farmers’ market each month. This month I headed to the Poway Farmers Market with a $40 in my pocket.
The Farmers Market: Poway Farmers Market
Location: 14134 Midland Road, Poway, CA
New Hours: Saturdays, 8am–1pm
The Vibe: Though it is one of the largest markets in the county, its spaciousness means it never feels crowded, and the peaceful surroundings feel quaint and charming
Market Notes: Bring cash, because while many vendors do take cards, merchant service fees can cut into slim profit margins.
Getting There
Admittedly, I haven’t spent a lot of time in this part of the county. When I do drive to Poway, it’s always a straight trip in on Poway Road to quickly patronize whatever business drew me there, and then a mad-dash back to the I-15 to avoid southbound traffic. So, I had no idea what to expect when I set out to explore what I’d been told was one of the top three farmers markets in our region.
Let me tell you: It’s a big one. So big, infact, I think I may have missed half the market, but we'll get to that later.
The market is located in the Old Poway Park, a gorgeous and inviting location that is worthy of a future day trip to enjoy a vintage train ride and properly explore everything the little community park has to offer.
Just before entering the market area, my son and I enjoyed walking along the wood plank sidewalk that surrounds the Poway Midland Railroad Museum, gawking at the antique locomotives under a May Gray sky. The Poway Midland Railroad is only open on the weekends, so make sure to check the train schedule before you go.
Reconnaissance
We entered the market just off Midland and made an early purchase of bright blue, cotton candy-flavored sorbet from So Cal Famous Beach Ice. Though it may not have been the soundest of morning food choices, it magically improved my 12-year-old’s mood (Amazing, right?).
Unlike some of the other weekend markets that can feel crowded to an introverted-extrovert like myself, this market was spacious and the surroundings felt quaint and charming.
We wandered up and down three blocks of farm stands, prepared foods stands, and other vendor tents. I recognized some of my favorite vendors as I made a mental list of places to go back to.
I knew I wasn’t going to pass up the Baba Foods hummus table and I had to have some of the season’s first melons and corn.
I paused to ogle a table full of different varieties of local sweet potatoes, completely intrigued as it’s not something I’ve seen often grown here regionally.
The Haul
While my market companion picked out a stick of chocolate honey for 15 cents at a neighboring table, I started my shopping spree by selecting three items for $12 at the Baba Foods table. I couldn’t resist the green olive garlic spread, dill and mint hummus, and pita chips. I accidently grabbed the baked instead of the fried chips, and flavorwise, I definitely prefer the fried pita chips, though I inadvertently made the healthier choice.
From there, I stumbled upon a few tables of beautiful succulents in a range of sizes. Inspired by the thought that succulents are kind of hard to kill, I bought four for $5.
Just across from the succulent vendor we discovered Your Best Bud’s Brew. Made by Marley’s Pet Planet, this is SD’s original dog beer. The "brews" are non-alcoholic, organic, and made with grass fed beef bone marrow. I decided my pug would be quite satisfied with Jack’s Honey Blonde, a blend that also included honey, apple cider vinegar, and peanut powder.
We came across the freshly made pasta from Close to Home and grabbed a bag of green spinach and garlic fettuccine noodles to bring home for lunch.
I picked out a small basket of perfectly sweet Golden Nugget mandarins from Heritage Family Farms from Fallbrook for $3. And, since I was running out of cash, I finished my shopping with two Korean melons (chamoe) from Jacy Farm in Temecula.
On our way back to the car, we decided to take a stroll along some of the beautiful trails in the park. It was then I noticed another section of tents that we had missed completely. I'll just call it a good incentive to go back to Poway for another visit.
My $40 at the Poway Market Bought:
1 So Cal Famous Beach Ice Cotton Candy Sherbert ($4.50)
3 for $12 Baba Foods green olive garlic spread, dill and mint hummus, and baked pita chips ($12)
1 Chocolate honey stick (15 cents)
4 Succulents ($5)
1 can Marley’s Pet Planet Your Best Buds Brew ($5)
1 bag Close to Home spinach garlic pasta ($6)
1 basket Heritage Family Farms golden nugget mandarins ($3)
2 Jacy Farm Korean melons ($4.30)
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