The Seaside Farmer’s Market at Mission Bay High School (MBHS) wants the residents of Pacific Beach to know that it is open for business with a new voucher program to promote local schools and a couple of noteworthy events planned for this month. Seaside Market launched a voucher program late last month, which involved the six public schools in Pacific Beach (Mission Bay High School, Pacific Beach Middle School, Crown Point, Kate Sessions, Pacific Beach and Barnard elementaries) by working with DonorNation. The voucher program offers “beach bucks” that can be purchased online in the form of a voucher. Parents can purchase the vouchers from www.-donornation.com with 15 percent of the voucher purchases directly deposited into their child’s school’s paypal account.
Events at the market this month include a rummage sale on Feb. 15 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. where families of Pacific Beach students can rent a space for $10 and bring items to sell. Then, on Feb. 22, the principal from the school that sells the most vouchers for the market will have the chance to step into a money-blowing box and grab money for their school.
There is a wide variety of vendors at the Seaside Farmers Market, including fresh produce, roasted coffee, roasted nuts (almonds, cashews, pecans and peanuts), freshly roasted kettle corn, honey, Mediterranean items, quesadillas, pet treats and more. One regular vendor at the market is retired Mission Bay High School basketball head coach and teacher Mike Seaman. Seaman, who spent more than 30 years at MBHS (1971-2008), sells his homemade cutting boards shaped in the form of small surfboards.
All proceeds from the market go to MBHS to help fund a variety of extracurricular programs and equipment. Market organizer Cori Meara said the year the market has been in operation has been a rewarding one.
“We have thoroughly enjoyed the benefit of providing MBHS with another source of much-needed revenue,” she said. To date, the market has given more than $12,000 to the school, helping to purchase items like ceiling fans for the weight room, tennis equipment and art classroom supplies, as well as helping to finance things like the robotics program, the “Compassion It Club,” the homecoming float, lacrosse program, basketball and softball.
The farmers’ market is held every Saturday at the MBHS parking lot (2475 Grand Ave.) between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Meara said that, despite the success of the market so far, the expenses associated with it mean organizers have tough choices to make. She put out a plea to the community for more support of the weekly event.
“Expensive permit and insurance fees are due for renewal and we need to make a realistic decision to continue with the market or not,” she said. “We have set the stage and we really need just one simple thing: more shoppers. Please stop by the market, invite friends and neighbors and talk it up.” For more information, visit www.seasidefarmersmarket.org.