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AGRICULTURE
NORTH COUNTY BUSINESS JOURNAL
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SPRING 2016
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sdnedc.org
and crafts vendors. Anderson said other
markets offer meat and fish, hummus, sal-
sas, spices and other food products. But a
big draw is usually the produce.
"The food products that we have, in
particular the produce, are spectacular,"
said Christine Davis, program manager
for the Carlsbad Village Association and
owner of Coolest Shoes in California, a
store on State Street. "The produce and
the food is much fresher. It's just better all
around – pesticide free, organic, all of
that. Just having a better-quality product
so readily accessible is nice."
Farmers markets also benefit local busi-
nesses, particularly if the market is held in
a city center or shopping center. Davis
said as an owner of a storefront on the
same street as the Carlsbad farmers mar-
ket, she's experienced this first-hand.
"When people come to the market, they
are introduced to all of the stores along
State Street and the surrounding areas,"
she said. "Many of the stores will say that
the farmers market days, especially in the
spring and the summer, are their highest-
producing days."
Anderson said the farm bureau itself
operates three markets in the county, and
it often receives calls from shopping cen-
ters and downtown associations looking
to add a market to help boost their local
economies. However, he said the most
successful farmers markets succeed be-
cause of their location, not necessarily be-
cause of the surrounding businesses.
"Anecdotally, it does seem that people
regard farmers markets as a draw, but
from a business standpoint, farmers mar-
kets, as with anything else, it's all about
location," he said. "For a market to be
long-term sustainable and successful,
you've actually got to place it where the
people are already at."
That viewpoint could explain the popu-
larity of the Carlsbad market, which aver-
ages about 50 vendors weekly and draws
up to a few thousand customers during
peak season. Davis said there are many
visitors who come to the market weekly,
but there are also tourists who make con-
nections with vendors and then go home
and order their product – even produce –
online and have it shipped to them.
"It's not like going to the grocery store
and getting what you need and getting
out," Anderson said. "There's music,
you're walking up and down the aisles,
you're talking with the vendors, having
direct conversations with the people who
produce the product. It's much more of an
event than an errand."
FARM FRESH
V
isiting farmers markets in every city in
North County provides a great oppor-
tunity to also explore local city centers,
restaurants and businesses. Click on the
cities below to visit the markets online:
>> OCEANSIDE 9 a.m.-1 p.m.,
Thursdays, on the corner of Pier View
Way and Coast Highway.
>> CARLSBAD 3-7 p.m., Wednesdays, on
State Street between Grand Ave.
and Carlsbad Village Dr.
>> VISTA 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturdays,
at the Courthouse.
>> ENCINITAS 4-7 p.m., Wednesdays,
at 600 S. Vulcan Ave.
>> DEL MAR 1-4 p.m., Saturdays,
at City Hall.
>> SOLANA BEACH Noon-4 p.m.,
Sundays, Cedros Avenue.
>> ESCONDIDO 2:30-6 p.m., Tuesdays, on
Grand Ave. between Juniper St.
and Kalmia St.
>> FALLBROOK 10 a.m.-3 p.m.,
Sundays, at 3757 S. Mission Rd.
>> SAN MARCOS 11 a.m.-3 p.m.,
Sundays, at 1020 San Marcos Blvd.
>> POWAY 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturdays,
at 14134 Midland Rd.
>> RAMONA 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturdays, at
1855 Main St.
>> RANCHO BERNARDO 9 a.m.-1 p.m.,
Fridays, at the Bernardo Winery.
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