Fallbrook Friday Certified Farmers' Market connects customers to knowledgeable vendors

Fallbrook is known for its quaint stores and close-knit community, but there are certain facets that radiate these qualities more than others. One such element can be found once a week in the heart of town – the Fallbrook Friday Certified Farmers’ Market.

Located at the corner of Alvarado St. and Main Ave., the Farmers’ Market is open every Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the town square. While the square is small, the vendors in the market provide an array of surprises and handmade gifts, in addition to local produce and flora.

According to Jeannie Hathaway, market manager, customers can always expect to find quality items.

“We might not always have the same vendors every week, but customers can always find garden-type vegetables, jams and jelly, honey, clothing and handmade crafts,” she said.

Indeed, strolling through the market on your lunch hour will introduce you to a few products that you’d only find in boutiques that specialize in handmade art pieces or beauty products. For example, the Fallbrook Garden Center kiosk does not only sell flowers, fruit plants, and herbs; there are also handmade jewelry pieces that are individually tailored for each person.

Across the aisle is a couple that sells handmade soap under the brand Garden Lather Soaps, each made with flowers and herbs that were picked from a garden in Fallbrook. Each bar of soap has a rich, luxurious scent, and even picking up the various bars leaves purchasers with the distinct impression that a lot of time and dedication has been put into each variety displayed on the table.

There are also clothing options that make for great gift-giving purposes. If you know someone who loves to wear unique clothing, or if someone loves bright hues in their attire, the options available are certain to please. One particular item that draws the eye is the assortment of handmade aprons in a vast amount of sizes, styles and shapes.

Of course, one cannot have a Farmers’ Market without fruit and food. There is always fresh fruit and vegetables for sale, ready to be eaten or put into a dish later that day. The jams and jelly sold are locally produced as well, meaning that you’re not just getting a great product to enjoy – you’re supporting a neighbor that has toiled over their product and wants to share it with their local community before selling it abroad.

Since Fallbrook is a town of small business starters, Hathaway says that they are always looking for new vendors to use the market as a way to reach new customers.

“A few of our vendors have a stand here, in addition to their stores,” said Hathaway. “For example, Abigail’s Flowers is here, in addition to her florist’s shop, and we have a fruit vendor who also has a fruit stand open elsewhere.”

For vendors looking to enter the Farmers’ Market in downtown, the cost to enter is one of the least expensive in the county, making it appealing from an investment standpoint. It also has a long-standing reputation in its location, with over 15 years of business in town.

The Farmers Market is one of the small town elements that keep downtown Fallbrook feeling like an intimate village community. However, in order to keep this type of ambiance in Fallbrook, residents need to stop by and visit their neighbors in the Market. It won’t take more than a few minutes during lunch to stroll through, find the right purchase, and connect with your local vendors.

The Fallbrook Friday Certified Farmers’ Market is located on the corner of Alvarado St. and Main Ave. and is open every Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the town square. For more information on the market or to become a vendor, contact Jeannie Hathaway at (760) 390-9726 or email [email protected].