Ready for your next trip to San Diego’s best farmers market for vine ripe tomatoes or fresh picked artichokes? Until 2pm every Sunday, rain or shine except for Christmas and New Year’s Day, the Hillcrest Farmers Market bustles along Normal Street north of University and south of Lincoln. Consistently voted the best of San Diego’s many fabulous farmers markets, this weekly community gathering was created in 1997 by theHillcrest Business Association (HBA).
Today’s outdoor market has nearly 150 vendor booths with everything from cappuccinos and fresh flowers to bee pollen, eggs and honey. Farm picked produce is displayed on tables for your shopping pleasure. Tasty food booths with scrumptious items like crêpes, gyros, panninis, empanadas and Thai food fill the west side of the market. It also includes many exciting products and services from artisan crafts to massage, and plants to olives, pasta, cheese and hummus. Need an extra copy of HillQuest’s Urban Guide? Stop by the HBA info booth north of the 7th Day Buskers acoustic roots music.
It’s a great place to meet neighbors and support the local business association. The certified market is the largest moneymaker for the HBA, which uses the income to improve the area for local merchants. The organization will add covered tables and a visiting chef series this year.
With the toe tapping tunes filling the air, a stroll among the picturesque booths is a splendid way to spend a Sunday morning or afternoon. Bring your camera…the plentiful produce and colorful bouquets provide a cornucopia for any shutter. As a bonus, many vendors graciously let you sample their faire before buying. (Note: adhere to health regulations. Unless they are service animals, please leave your dogs at home.)
FYI: If you are driving to the market from the core of Hillcrest, take a shortcut by using the 163-north ramp on Tenth Avenue then quickly exiting on Washington Street (note the white dotted line with arrows on the fold-out map in the current HillQuest, an Urban Guide).
