One New Year Resolution Kept- Wednesdays at the Santee Farmers Market

mmm-yoso!!! is a blog, written by a few friends, about meals or foods in general they enjoy. Today, Cathy is writing, because the others aren't. Some of us are on vacation...

Hi.  The County of San Diego Farm Bureau lists 47 different  Farmers Markets within the County of San Diego.  There is one happening somewhere every day of the week, (even on Monday there is one,  at the Welk Village in Escondido).  Here is a link to Kirk's (2007) post about the Sunday Hillcrest Farmers Market, which has within it a link to  his other  (2005) post and this stop at the Little Italy Farmers Market where he was last month.   

Since I live in Santee, I definitely show up at "mine" most often, although I have made it a point to shop at at least on Farmer's Market a week for the last year, as part of my 2009 New Year Resolution. So, I tend to stop when I see one is happening somewhere I happen to be driving.  Many of the vendors move from one to the other (hence, Monday is almost day off for some) and some vendors are "Uni"que.  
When you park in the abandoned school parking lot in Santee (that's what they call it-the school was razed years ago) and walk toward the market, you see the craft vendors first.
You can see there were only a few Fruit and Vegetable vendors set up on this Wednesday.   
The mostly locally grown produce is cut up so you can sample it, at most of the vendor booths. 
When my garden's tomatoes have stopped producing, I can still get some nice ones here.
Sometimes I crave radishes, and these white ones were excellent. 
As were these baby squash. 
Some with blossoms. (All the baby squash and blossomed squash were $5/lb; we had a delightful meal of cheese stuffed fried blossoms a few weeks ago).
This past Wednesday it was raining and not as many vendors were set up.  Citrus is in season.  (The funny looking oranges on the left are Italian Blood Oranges).
So are English peas, which The Mister and I eat straight from the shell, raw.

There are several food vendors here usually- tamales, hummus, fresh breads, honey, jams and a few others.  But that area (East end) is not as popular as at other (weekend) Farmers Markets.

If you are driving by and see a Farmers Market, do stop.  You never know what you may find... 
The San Diego County Farm Bureau Website

 

Comments

[Pam Phillips]

We're still waiting for the farmer's markets to open in Massachusetts, so it's nice to see one going strong in my home town.

[Laurie]

San Diego/Santee is my hometown as well. Sadly, due to job circumstances, we had to relocate to The South. Not a day goes by that I don't think of beautiful San Diego and the abundance of Farmer's Markets. My favorite market is the Sunday Farmer's Market in La Jolla. I went to the Santee market just a few times before we left. I'm glad to see it is still there. Thanks for the post, it really made my day -- to be able to see home!

[Tammy]

I love perusing through the fruit and veggie stands at farmer's markets. Avocados and oranges are my favorite!

Why is that guy wearing a Santa Claus hat in one of your pictures?

[Carol]

I like the one in Poway but it's swung towards an eating market than a "grocery" market. Don't get me wrong, I love the food and the smell of all the wonderful foods. It's just that I miss some of the varieties that we used to have.

And yeah, whatzup with the guy in the Santa hat? Is that a picture from holidays past? ;-)

[Cathy]

Welcome to the blog, Pam and Laurie! How nice that two santee Ex-Pats found this post.

Pam- I know that I could never start a garden until May 25 because the snow and freezing would come back. (The Mister was raised in Mass and I'm from Detroit). When your Farmers Markets finally open, will be worth it.

Laurie- We lived in the South for a few years and I do miss it.
Everyplace is different and taking advantage of what you are near is part of the adventure of life. You have no idea how happy you made me.

Tammy! I like vegetables a bit more than fruits and not having to grow all of my own is so nice. I have a blood orange tree in my yard and know someone who grows avocados; we trade. I've done a silly last photo in each of my last 3 posts...you found this one.

Hi, Carol. I kind of like the market-markets and see a lot of the FMs out here becoming almost half "other" vendors. I kind of like more local grown produce than to attend an outdoor event. But that's me. (Yes, a FM photo from December; I wanted to show flowers and have a silly last photo)