This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Ocean Beach Farmers Market on Newport Avenue.

And it’s surprising just how much the weekly public event on Wednesdays continues, after three decades, to be not only an incubator for start-ups but a destination draw woven into the fabric of the community.

“Our Farmers Market has been very successful,” said Denny Knox, executive director for Ocean Beach MainStreet Association, which founded the weekly event and has developed its potential over time for promoting small businesses new and old. “We have a great turnout and loyal vendors who’ve been doing this market for years. It’s really helped put Ocean Beach on the map.”

Knox noted being a market vendor is “the ultimate way to have people tell ‘who I am’ with their product lines without investing in a storefront.”

Today, as always, OB Farmers Market continues to be a great way to test drive a product line, get exposure and generate or refine ideas for developing a business plan before plunging into investing in a brick-and-mortar space.

“You may have some great ideas,” Knox said. “And you can take those ideas to the Farmers Market and get some feedback and hone your product. If you’re smart about what you’re doing – you can really build your business from the ground up. And then have a terrific following when you move into a space.”

Two years dealing with COVID has definitely changed how the OB Farmers Market operates today and into the future, said Knox. “We had to close for 3 ½ months,” she pointed out. “Our (OBMA) staff worked really hard to stay within the (COVID) rules and regulations, and there were many. We ultimately had to change the whole nature of the farmers market. One big thing that happened was we stopped having music, which was sort of our signature for a long time.”

Despite COVID, the number of market vendors today is about the same as it was pre-pandemic. And there is still a waiting list to get a spot in the market, especially for those serving food. “But if you have a product that nobody else has, brand new and a really great concept, we will find you a spot at some point in the next few months,” noted Knox, adding vendors don’t have to live in OB to join the market, though OBMA members get first priority.

Pointing out there are many farmers markets throughout San Diego, Knox noted “most of them are pretty far away from us.”

Looking ahead with the market, Knox predicted: “The outlook is bright because people like to come down to the beach. It’s so unusual to have an event, and be right on the beach.”

The year-round OB Farmers Market is seasonal and, to a certain extent, weather-driven. “If the weather is beautiful and warm, we have large crowds,” said Knox. “When it’s cold, the crowds are not as big.”

Knox said OBMA feels blessed to have the Farmers Market “because it allows us to do things like have an office, a staff, and do things like Christmas decorations, banners and cleaning the sidewalks.”

Knox noted there can be spillover from the Wednesday market to existing brick-and-mortars on Newport Avenue. “We urge our merchants to let us know what their specials are (on Wednesdays),” she said noting, “There’s an audience here they don’t normally have.”

Regular surveys OBMA does to gauge the effectiveness of its Farmers Market are revealing. “About 50 percent of the people who come to OB Farmers Market are not residents of 92107,” Knox said. “They’re coming from elsewhere.”

Knox believes the Farmers Market has helped build community in OB. “As more people wanted to go to the beach, Ocean Beach started morphing into a more ‘regular’ kind of place,” she said. “Then it became, in the late ’90s and early 2000s desirable to live here. People who moved here felt like they were part of a family. There is this sense all around here that everybody is in it together.”

Discussing the continuing impact of the market on OB, Knox said: “Farmers markets have brought a lot of attention to locally grown foods for so many reasons.”

Asked if the OB Farmers Market will still be around in 20 years Knox replied: “As long as there are still farmers.”

‘Fresh food, and a fresh spirit’ – three decades of the OB Farmers Market

By KAREN SCANLON | The Beacon

Ocean Beach MainStreet Association is prepping for a 30th birthday bash of the OB Famers Market. And you’re invited!

The celebration gets underway on Wednesday, May 11 from 4-8 p.m. A usual assemblage of colorful market produce and crafts, and a couple of surprises, will be available along the 4900 block of Newport Avenue, the market’s location for 30 years.

But before we party, let’s have a look at some of the history of OB’s spirited bazaar.

“It came about by a desperate desire,” says OB MainStreet (OBMA) executive director Denny Knox. “The market was born out of a study completed in 1987 known as the Newport Avenue Commercial Improvement Program.”

Residents wanted, and got a farmers market! In May 1992. Retired staff member, Claudia Jack, worked at the market for nearly 20 years. Her wealthy family had moved to Sunset Cliffs in 1957. “Dad had built a house on Amiford, one street west of Sunset Elementary, where I (and years later my children) attended school. I have always loved Ocean Beach.”

Jack says: “The market was about six years old when I was hired. It started out small. I came the same week as a new manager, David Klaman. I sat at the OBMA information table. People were very receptive and left their business cards and fliers with me. I don’t remember exactly how many booths we had, but we watched it grow.”

Today’s market manager Klaman (who was preceded by Claire Carpenter and one other) does have a pulse on the early peddlers. “There were maybe 35 to 40 vendors when my wife and I started working at the market in late 1999. I was working the market circuit and knew all the vendors, including Rey River Farms (which is still represented in OB today). I met my wife at Rey River who was managing a nonprofit market at Euclid and 94.”

“Through the years we kept adding stuff at OB. We had a good community here and people wanted a market. It’s the community that makes the market.” Klaman says much of the profit goes back into Ocean Beach to help its residents and businesses.

“In the early years, OB Farmers Market sold strictly farm-fresh produce,” Jack says. “At one point, the market had llamas, and a small locomotive run by a fellow who made laps through the market. The market brought people together in a positive way, always had a fresh spirit about it.”

“We didn’t do much advertising in those days, it was more of a word-of-mouth kind of thing,” Klaman says. “Most good markets are on the weekends but we’re on Wednesdays and, today, a powerhouse of a good one.” The popular arts and crafts, and music, were added to the ambiance of this ocean-air market about 20 years ago. But the COVID pandemic put a stop to the music, and it will likely not return for a somewhat complicated permit’s sake.

Interestingly, OBMA operates its financial business and files taxes under its corporate name, OB Merchants Association.

Knox says, “We formed a revitalization committee in 1985 and among other good deeds, planted trees, replaced broken sidewalks, put in the new old-fashioned streetlamps, and strung lights palm tree to palm tree to better light the area of the market. OBMA was inducted into the national MainStreet model in 1997, its goal, which would make Ocean Beach better. We also started a maintenance assessment district for Newport Avenue’s downtown spaces and business owners.”

But the most colorful feather in MainStreet’s proverbial cap has been the pride of a Certified Farmers Market through the California Department of Agriculture. This certification ensures that high-quality and fresh produce is brought to the market. It allows the community to experience a diverse market with the opportunity to meet the farmers and learn how their food supply is produced.

So don’t miss the Farmers Market! In addition to its usual natural bounty, behold the unveiling of the new canvas tote bag bearing the updated OB Farmers Market logo. And you’ll want to stop by OB MainStreet’s bright yellow information booth for your free opportunity to draw tickets sometime between 4-7 p.m. on May 11. You just might be a winner of an OB Farmers Market favorite. Happy birthday, marketeers!

Memories of the first Ocean Beach Farmers Market

By JUDI CURRY | The Beacon

Thirty years ago I was just beginning my job at San Diego Job Corps in Imperial Beach. I remember the excitement of the first OB Farmers Market and hoped that it would not  interfere with my job, because traffic would hold me back from “opening day.” I so desperately did not want to miss the first market because I remember attending a variety of meetings as to how the market would be run and making suggestions to the committees.

When we finally arrived on Newport Avenue we found there was no parking for three blocks and my husband and I enjoyed walking to the strains of live music as we approached the festivities. There were musicians all over – in the middle of the street; by the curbs; near the pier, etc. I know it was a long time ago because I knew the songs that were being played – unlike now – and it was easy to put a lilt in our walk as we hummed along.

I remember talking to my husband and saying that we needed to bring our grandchildren to the market the next time because there were llama rides and they would have a ball riding them. The rides were at the corner of Newport and Cable, and as I recall, stayed in that general area.

And the food – the abundance of food! One farmer was selling Loganberries – a berry I had never had before. He let me try some before selling me a whole container of them. The crepes were huge and so delicious. The fresh veggies were so numerous that I found I had purchased too many and quickly learned which ones I could freeze and which ones I had to cook right away. The flowers were so fragrant and in abundance. And meanwhile, the music played on.

There were two mimes that were entertaining the sight-seers. We could hardly wait to get to another spot just to see what was being offered in the way of food, music, etc. If alcohol was served I do not remember it; the buzz came from the delights of the Farmers Market. We tried to go weekly for months; gradually other things got in the way, but we always enjoyed ourselves when we went. And by the way, our grandkids loved the rides!

Ah, for the good old days!

New and long time vendors love Ocean Beach’s vibe

By DAVE SCHWAB

Of the many farmers markets around the City and County of San Diego, vendors who ply their wares at Ocean Beach Farmers Market will tell you it is one of the most fun – and profitable – markets anywhere.

The Ocean Beach Farmers Market is open from 4-8 p.m. every Wednesday in the 2900 block of Newport Avenue rain or shine. It is a Certified Farmers Market through the California Department of Agriculture. This certification ensures high quality and fresh produce is brought to the market and allows the community to experience a diverse market with the opportunity to meet the farmers and learn how their food supply is produced.

The Ocean Beach Farmers Market has more than 100 vendors including certified farmers, artisans, and crafters, pre-packaged food, hot food featuring cuisine from around the world, and lots more.

Here’s what a few vendors on April 27 at the market had to say about their experience with it:

FAT BOYZ PIZZA

Chuck Fisher, owner of Fat Boyz Pizza at 5091 Niagara Ave., as well as Walking on Water Cafe on OB Pier, said it’s hard for a vendor to beat the exposure – and potential – offered to local small businesses by OB Farmers Market.

“I’ve been out on OB Pier for 30 years, here at the market since 2009 and I’ve owned several pizza shops at one time, and this is probably, one day a week, more profitable than most small pizza shops in America,” said Fisher adding, “It’s very well managed, very well run, that’s the key thing.”

Is the market a good place to promote a brick-and-mortar business?

“Of course it is,” replied Fisher noting a lot of his market customers assume he has a storefront and inquire about it. “It’s also a great place for start-ups,” he added noting, “Everybody has a muffin that their great-grandmother brought over from home, and their whole family loves it. But will somebody give them money for it?”

According to Fisher, OB Farmers Market is a good “litmus test” for whether your products have broad appeal or not. “Here you see if it will float,” he said. “You get a lot of interesting feedback. If they like the product – you get instant feedback. If they don’t like your product – you get instant feedback. That’s huge.”

CULINARY ELITE

A street food and catering company servicing greater San Diego County, Culinary Elite is a mainstay at OB Farmers Market and similar markets around town. Culinary’s product line features a traditional Philly cheesesteak, which the company boasts as being one of the best and most authentic cheesesteaks available outside Philadelphia.

“We’ve been doing this market for the past five years,” said Culinary Elite co-owner Scott Breshears. “We love it here. It’s a great crowd, a great community. It’s been super supportive of us. And we’ve actually been able to use the connections we’ve made here at this market to get our food truck opened.”

Breshears said he started Culinary Elite with mobile pop-ups. “This (OB Farmers) was one of the first markets that we were able to get into,” he said. “Really, it’s been our best market overall, consistently, for over five years.”

Would you encourage others to become vendors at OB Farmers Market?

“Yeah,” enthused Breshears. “For us, it was a great opportunity to start our own business without having a huge financial burden. It’s a great way for anybody that produces food, or crafts, or anything like that, that thinks they can market it and make a business out of it, to get out there and try it for themselves. I would say this is probably one of the best places to get started.”

Is the market fun or work? “I love it,” answered Breshear’s girlfriend, Jennifer, who was helping him out cooking cheesesteaks.

Noting how dog-friendly OB’s market is, Jennifer added that’s reflected in Culinary Elite’s menu offerings. “On our food truck we have a doggie menu because there are just so many dogs here,” Jennifer added.

VALDIVIA FARMS

A green-certified farmer, Valdivia Farms of Carlsbad, part of the local vegetable and melon farming industry, has the longest tenure of any of OB Farmers Market’s vendors.

“I’ve been at this market since the first day it opened,” said Francisco Valdivia.

Has the market changed over time? “Yes, for the better,” noted Valdivia. “Over the years more and more people have come for fresh vegetables.”

What’s the market’s busiest time of year? “Spring and summer,” Valdivia answered noting the crowded market on April 27, a beautiful sunny day, was typical of crowds you see there shortly after the market opens at about 4:30 p.m.

“Wait ‘till tonight, you won’t be able to walk,” interjects a customer overhearing the conversation.

“It’s ‘really’ busy after 5 o’clock,” agreed Valdivia, who carries several varieties of vegetables including tomatoes, zucchini, and strawberries.

Valdivia, who sells vegetables at several farmers markets noted “every market is different. But this is one of the busiest ones with a good mix of ages.”

DRUNK CONFECTIONS

Drunk Confections owner Amelia Rose was getting a lot of attention at her booth from market customers curious about her liquor dessert shop, which bills itself as “where sugar and alcohol come to bake love.”

“I’ve been here three or four months,” said Amelia Rose adding, “It’s amazing, I love it here.” Of the alcohol in her confections, Rose noted, “I add it in the frosting. You can taste if for sure.”

Rose likes the food and dessert mix at the market. “There’s a cookie place here, a donut place,” she said. Of her business, she added: “I got started during COVID by making a different dessert every week and bringing it to my friends. That’s why each of them (desserts) are named after different friends of mine.”

Is this a good place to test your products? “Yes, but you have to find the right market for you,” she concluded. “Here it’s way better for me.”

Asked for advice on becoming a vendor Rose counseled, “Don’t get discouraged.”

CHRYSTAL’S PURE HONEY

“It’s a sticky business,” joked Dale McBride, who’s been selling Chrystal’s Pure Honey products out of Vista at OB Farmers Market. “We’ve been here for 23 years. We have a big following.”

The various kinds of honey are lined up at McBride’s booth in flavors including cherry and raspberry.

“Every flower has a different fragrance and a different nectar,” said McBride when asked where the flavor comes from for his different honey products. “It’s a wonderful crowd, nice people,” he added.

An amateur beekeeper, McBride makes all the products he sells, moving his bees around to pollinate different types of flowers.

IBOS

If you like Turkish cuisine, IBO’s is the booth for you at the OB Farmers Market. The booth serves two crowd-pleasing food products, chicken over rice, and grilled cheese sandwiches. Turkish is just one of many international food products waiting to be discovered in OB at the beach community’s farmers market on Wednesday evenings.