Point Loma Farmers Market has graduated from high school, moving on to higher marketing in Liberty Station and greater outreach for the charity nonprofit supporting it.
Located at Point Loma High School on Sundays since it opened in June 2023, the market, founded and operated by local chef Brady Farmer and his wife Mariana, is moving to Arts District Liberty Station effective March 22. The market will now be open on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Sea Hive parking lot, 2750 Dewey Road.
For the Farmers, the PLFM is a labor of love. It benefits Devoted To Youth Foundation, a nonprofit they’ve created that donates proceeds, assistance, and training to underprivileged youth and families in need.
Brady Farmer said the change of locale serves several useful purposes. “We’re now able to become more self-sustainable in small business,” he said adding the PLHS location served its purpose but was a bit “off the beaten path.” He noted the market’s new Liberty Station site within its “amazing Arts District” now offers them the opportunity to create a local farmers market with more of a regional appeal and draw.
“It will be a prime marketplace on Historic Decatur Road and Chauncey Street in the Sea Hive parking lot,” Farmer said. “We couldn’t have asked for a nicer gift from the NTC Foundation.”
The nonprofit NTC Foundation’s mission is to enrich the lives of San Diegans by renovating 26 historic buildings at the former Naval Training Center to create, facilitate, and operate a broad-based Arts District focused on experiencing the arts, culture, and creativity that are the hallmark of the San Diego region.
In addition to a wide array of innovative and cultural foods, drinks, snacks, fresh organic produce, and arts and crafts, PLFM will offer service vendors as well. “A big addition to our market will be our partnership with Warren-Walker Middle School and its SofYE School of Young Entrepreneurs project,” said Farmer. “We will be bringing back a mother’s nursing area and a free kids area, and we’ll be introducing monthly events happening each weekend.”
For instance, noted Farmer, the market will have kids’ day one weekend, live performances on another, and art shows, food demonstrations, and more during other times. “Lastly, we’ll be the first farmers market to have a weekly Cars and Coffee Meetup to celebrate families and their love for San Diego,” he added.
“We wanted to open a farmers market for the kids to use, and one that would help families through the same site,” said Mariana Farmer, noting the goal of their nonprofit Devoted to Youth Foundation is to help underprivileged youth and families in need. “We believe in listening and helping give more than just a donation,” she added. “We want to give opportunities, hope, and a better future for those who are trying to raise a family. Our foundation believes that we can do way more by giving knowledge, education, job placement, job training, and emergency assistance. Thus, helping people help themselves instead of just giving false hope.”
Brady Farmer added that being in Liberty Station opens up new opportunities to expand activities at the market like him and others doing food demonstrations and hosting live music and kids’ events. “We want to keep it fresh and keep it inviting,” he said, adding, “We want the market to have a fun family vibe. Eventually, we hope to work more directly with the Arts District to do arts shows and other activities.”
Concluded Farmer: “Our new venue is more than double or triple the size of our old one. Now we can finally become a local staple on Saturdays in Point Loma as one of San Diego’s biggest farmers markets.”
