Liberty Public Market Launches Farmers Market
San Diego has a new farmers market. Liberty Public Market opened a Thursday afternoon farmers market as an extension of its food hall. The Liberty Public Farmers Market, which launched May 4, is in Liberty Station’s Arts District, in the public green between Fireside by The Patio and the golf course—and just steps away from the Public Market.
I stopped by last week and found many vendors and farms that farmers market shoppers will be familiar with—J.R. Organics, Smit Farms, Da-Le-Ranch, Prager Brothers, Bitchin’ Sauce, Happy Pantry, MeatMan, and Masala Cottage, among them. According to market manager Ron LaChance, there are 17 California Certified Farmers and more than 30 specialty vendors. So you can pick up gourmet foods—but not cooked foods since, LaChance pointed out, you can get those in the Public Market nearby and the restaurants at Liberty Station.
I bought a gorgeous fat loaf of spelt sourdough bread and a couple of thick, salty pretzels from Prager Brothers as well as a bag of garlic naan, and containers of Tikka Masala Sauce and Chicken Vindaloo sauce from Masala Cottage.
LaChance also said that there are 25 artisans selling jewelry and art, some of whom are based at Liberty Station’s Arts District. There will be knife sharpening on the last Thursday of the month, courtesy of Budd Solaegui of Perfect Edge.
And, there will be a chef series, LaChance added, starting in June. Customers can hang out with a local chef, who will be shopping in the farmers market, before going to their Liberty Station restaurant to enjoy a market meal. The kick-off dinner will be with Blue Bridge Hospitality’s executive chef, Tim Kolanko. Blue Bridge Hospitality owns and operates both Liberty Public Market and the new farmers market.
On a sunny late afternoon, the market had plenty of shoppers scoping out berries, Swiss chard, mushrooms, tomatoes, summer squash, and sugar snap peas. It looks like the first wave of apricots is coming into season, while spring fava beans and asparagus are at their peak.
According to Liberty Public Market, a portion of the profits each week will benefit Outside The Lens. This is digital media education non-profit based at Liberty Station, which teaches and empowers youth to use digital media, videography, and photography through workshops, summer camps, outreach, and teacher training.
The Liberty Public Farmers Market is open year-round every Thursday from 2 to 7 p.m.
