Southeastern San Diego's Only Farmers Market to Re-Open October 25 at New Park

SAN DIEGO (Oct. 20, 2014) – Southeastern San Diego’s only farmers market is planting roots at a new location. On Saturday, Oct. 25 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., People’s Produce Certified Farmers Market will re-open at Chollas Creek Crossing park at 47th and Castana streets in San Diego. The brand new park developed by nonprofit Groundwork San Diego-Chollas Creek will also be unveiled that day.

Prior to the farmer and vendor booths opening at 3 p.m., guests can enjoy a wellness hour from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., with healthy food sampling, a fitness class, and giveaways including healthy cookbooks, pedometers and more. At 2:30 p.m. Supervisor Greg Cox, City Council member Myrtle Cole and other health and community leaders will address the community.

At the market, residents can purchase fresh produce or seedlings from local farmers or prepared foods from local vendors with cash, EBT, and WIC vouchers. The market, which will take place every Saturday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., will often have activities for children, and wellness activities for families such as health screenings and cooking demonstrations.

“A disproportionate percentage of residents in Southeastern San Diego suffer from chronic, life-threatening diseases that can be traced to diet and nutrition,” said Diane Moss, CEO of Project New Village, operator of People’s Produce Certified Farmers Market. “This market will offer residents an avenue to source locally grown healthy foods.”

The market’s new home - Chollas Creek Crossing – is a three-acre gathering place with student artwork, a native plant garden, and native trees and shrubs that support creek wildlife. Adjacent to Chollas Creek, the new park was funded by the TKF Foundation in collaboration with the former City of San Diego’s Civic Innovation Lab, and the UCSD / BLUM Community Stations Project, who partnered in designing the space through a participatory process with students and residents in the neighborhood. Chollas Creek Crossing will be managed by Groundwork San Diego, who will co-program activities with the UCSD / BLUM Community Stations Project on issues ranging from urban agriculture to food justice and arts and culture, connecting university and community resources.

“We’re overjoyed about the transformation of this formerly blighted space, and happy to join with Project New Village and People’s Produce Certified Farmers Market to engage Southeastern residents in healthy lifestyles and environmental wellness,” said Leslie Reynolds, Executive Director of Groundwork.

“Groundwork San Diego-Chollas Creek is also indebted to UCSD Blum Co-directors Fonna Forman and Teddy Cruz for their leadership in transforming this space and making this possible.”

About Project New Village

Project New Village is a home-grown Southeastern San Diego-based nonprofit corporation. The mission of Project New Village is to collaborate with organizations and individuals to promote personal and community wellness in Southeastern San Diego. Through the People’s Produce Certified Farmers Market, a component of an Urban Agriculture Initiative, the nonprofit is working to address social inequities and to promote universal access to good food as viable avenues to better health. Learn more at projectnewvillage.org or call (619) 262-2022.

About Groundwork San Diego-Chollas Creek

Groundwork San Diego-Chollas Creek is an independent nonprofit business that strives to improve the environment, economy and quality of life in Southeast San Diego. Groundwork works in partnership with the City of San Diego and with the assistance of volunteers, communities and businesses to restore creeks and open spaces, provide educational outreach on water conservation and climate change issues. For more information or to get involved, please call (619) 543-0430 or visit GroundworkSanDiego.org.