RANCHO SANTA FE — If you can’t remember the last time you ate a peach that tasted like a peach or how a luscious sweet-tasting strawberry dances on your taste buds, perhaps it is time to head over to the Rancho Santa Fe Farmers Market.
This eclectic bazaar is held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sundays at the Del Rayo Village Center at 16079 San Dieguito Road.
Here shoppers will find a variety of fresh produce, fish, poultry, baked goods, oils and meat rubs, baskets, even crepes and much, much more.
Raquel Pena, the market’s manager, said that since it opened in May the number of vendors has risen from 19 to 32 and as the number of vendors increased, so did the number of shoppers.
“Every week we see more people out here, shopping for the week, hugging and just meeting,” Pena said.
On a recent Sunday morning, shoppers moved from booth to booth, such as Poppa’s Fresh Fish selecting seafood and exchanging recipes. Allison Stevens of Magnolia Flowers has been selling her flowers at the market since day one.
“I just love it here. It’s so much fun,” she said adjusting one of her beautiful bouquets.
Giggle Moon offered handmade clothing for children and Kenny Rosner of the Schroom Shack was teaching shoppers about the variety of mushrooms for sale on his table.
“They are all locally grown,” Rosner said.
Kyle Shelton of Live Oak Ranch cut pieces of peach for shoppers to sample, which were snapped up as quickly as they were cut as were a variety of peaches and nectarines he was offering for sale.
“Business is good and it’s getting better and better,” Shelton said.
A very popular station at the farmers market was Bella’s Crepes, which had a constant line of customers waiting to have his or her crepe cooked to order, the demand keeping Charles Marin and Chef Sean Michael Gottlieb busy as little crepe-making bees.
Jon Wilson, his son Jack, 4, and their puppy Buckeye, were happily polishing off their crepes at a table provided at the market.
Giant artichokes, zucchini, carrots and other produce from Sage Mountain Farm caught the eye of shoppers and sweet strawberries from Valdivia Farms were some of the first items sold out at the booth of Chris Munoz.
All during the morning, music by Haskell Collins kept the mood lively and light.
Among the other items for sale were colorful baskets, Panama Hats, pasta, olive oils and rubs, clothing and chocolate. Dan Graham of Eclipse Chocolate wore an appropriate T-shirt that read, “Nobody knows the truffles I’ve seen.”
On the first Sunday of the month, volunteers from the Helen Woodward Animal Center bring pets to the market to introduce them people who might adopt them.
To learn more about the Rancho Santa Fe Farmers Market, call (858) 922-5135 or e-mail rsf.farmersmarket@ gmail.com.
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