Farmers Market Doubling Its Fun—and Fortune—on Eve of Christmas Eve

With a coffee mug in hand, Suzanne Bendixen wandered through La Mesa’s Farmers Market Friday greeting shoppers and stopping to chat with many of the  40 or so vendors.

Just one of three farmer markets she manages with her husband, Mark, Bendixen says her job of 22 years is a far cry from her days working at Harrah’s in Lake Tahoe.

“There, people are drunk, blow smoke in your face and are losing money; here, everyone is nice,” she said before adding with a laugh. “And hopefully not drunk.”

And since their May move from a parking lot east of Spring Street on Allison Avenue to west of the trolley tracks on University Avenue, there’s even more of her job to love.

“We were at the other location for 18 years, so there wasn’t any room to grow over there,” Bendixen said. “All those years, we were always kind of looking for another spot. None of them ever worked out.”

Now the tented marketplace is visible from several major streets and, having the added bonus of ample free parking, Bendixen says the vendors are making roughly twice what they were at the previous location.

According to the city’s website, the Farmers Market boasts five new food and 14 new arts-and-crafts vendors. That list continues to grow, as was the case for one snack food merchant, who said Friday was his first day in La Mesa.

The more seasoned George Petrou has been selling Mediterranean-style food for 10 years and attends 35 markets throughout San Diego County and Los Angeles. While he was doing fine at the previous location, he says the change has been a positive one.

“Here is much better because they come more people,” he said with an accent as he showed off his selection of olive oils.

Curtis Moore—who came out of retirement to launch his Safari Crunch granola business after going to Africa to celebrate his retirement as a CPA—says he never experienced the Allison Avenue environment, but is very happy with his current, high-traffic location.

“I’m on an island,” he said of the access to his booth from three directions. “Suzanne gave me the best of the best.”

Steven Cornett, a weekly customer who’s starting a farm in Lakeside called Jared’s Real Food, says he shops at La Mesa’s market because “this is the best place to get produce.”

“I believe in supporting local markets, local farmers,” he said. “I try to get all of my produce here. I don’t like to shop at Albertson’s or any grocery stores.”

San Diego resident Kary Siegfried attends the Farmers Market about once a year and likes the fruit and flowers. She approved of the new location, and said that it didn’t deter her from enjoying lunch and a little shopping in The Village first.

Marcelle Darby, an El Cajon resident and Farmers Market regular, says she enjoyed the intimacy at the smaller location, but understood the financial reasons for the move. Having grown up in a small town, she’s more concerned with the people and product selection than the location.

“I like fresh and local and, if I can afford it, organic,” she said. “I like knowing who my farmer is.”

Darby has her favorites figured out, but says she’d like to see more vendors selling free-range meat and dairy products, or “protein.”

That might happen sooner than later, as Bendixen says talks with the city are ongoing about expansion in the spring, which would mean filling the two nearest rows of parking with more merchants.  No firm arrangements have been made, though she plans to pursue the idea more seriously in January.

When asked about any potential future growth, the city’s Chris Gonzales—who championed the relocation—responded via email saying, “No future changes planned at this time.”  

Said Bendixen: “It has to be approved by City Council, but [Mayor] Art Madrid has already said no problem. He has been amazing to us ever since the get-go. He’s been nice, he comes here—always has to get a tamale—and he’s been very generous with us.”

The Farmers Market is open 2-6 p.m. Fridays and sells a variety of hot food, snacks and produce, as well as flowers, soaps and other products.