Farmers Markets in Poway and Ramona, California

In recent times, there has been an increase in demand for fruits and vegetables produced locally. In most cities and towns in California - a state well known for its home run farms - you will find a local farmers market. Most of these farmers markets are not open every day. Most are only open on one or two days of the week. At the local farmers markets you can go green by buying the freshest produce, grown locally. Most farmers markets will sell products that use only natural fertilizers or no pesticides at all. Some of the local produce may even be organic - but you will have to pay a premium for those.

It is advisable to patronize local farmers markets because of a number of reasons. First off, local producers need your patronage. While local farms can sell their produce to other food distributors, like supermarkets or convenience stores, buying fresh from the farmer's market guarantees the freshest possible produce available to the market. Secondly, local farmers use less industrialized methods of farming. Most local farms are family run and thus, do not harm the environment as much. Most locally run family farms will only use limited machinery, as opposed to industrial farms, which tend to rely incredibly on machines. The reduced reliance on machines also means less pollutants in the area which the crops are grown, resulting in more supple, healthy vegetables and fruits.

Ramona Certified Farmer's Market

The Ramona Certified Farmer's Market is located at 626 E. St. Ramona, CA 92065. It is only opened on Saturday mornings, from 8.30am till 12.30pm. At the market, you will find the freshest produce available in Ramona, most of which, grown locally at the Randol Ridge Ranch.

You can find all kinds of fruits and vegetables here depending on the season. All year round, you can expect to find the freshest onions, lettuces, peppers, spinach, avocados, limes, lemons and fresh eggs. During fall, you can look forward to apples and pumpkins. Strawberries in spring. Grapes in the summer. And kumkuats in the winter.

The Randol Ridge Ranch also operates a delivery service of Farmer's market goods. They will deliver any of their produce to the Ramona area. They also have a special delivery surprise box with an assortment of the freshest produce of their ranch for the week. Deliveries on Wednesday only.

The prices of the fruits and vegetables available at this Farmer's Market vary according to season, but it is safe to say that the prices are extremely reasonable.

Old Poway Certified Farmer's Market

The Poway Certified Farmer's Market is located at 14134 Midland Rd. Poway. Like the Ramona CFM, this one is only open on one day, Saturday, from 8.30am to 12.30pm. So you'll have to choose between Ramona or Poway. While this local farmers market is not the biggest of the farmers markets in the area, it still has some notable produce.

During my visit to the Old Poway Certified Farmer's Market, I picked up a dozen or so fresh eggs. When I cooked breakfast the next day, I have to say, that the eggs were really good. They were so fresh, that I could pick up the yolk by pinching it. For those of you who do not know, a fresh egg sinks in water. So, you know what to do next time.

The local farmers who sell their produce at the Old Poway Certified Farmer's Market are friendly and jovial. It is certainly fun to visit them. To top it off, this farmer's market's prices are lower than average, for produce that is just as good, if not better.

Between the two CFMs in Poway and Ramona, I'd alternate between the two as they both has their unique old world charms. Poway is more rustic, but Ramona packs a larger variety of produce. If you live in Ramona, I strongly advise you try the Radol Ridge Ranch's surprise box.

Sources

Ramona Certified Farmers' Market, Local Harvest
Home, Randol Ridge Ranch
Find a Market, California Federation of Certified Farmers' Markets