San Diego farmers market patrons demand organic fare.

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Ron LaChance runs several farmers markets in Southern California. “San Diego is into organic produce more than any other community,” he says. “When we first opened here, we had one organic farmer, and I thought the locals were going to run me up the flagpole. They were threatening my life: 'If you don't get organic farmers we're never coming back.'”

LaChance listened and added more organic farmers, who now outsell the others by about a 4-1 ratio.

He adds: “In contrast, I've had a farmer's market for seven years in San Juan Capistrano, and I've been asked about organic three times."

Plans are to start a Saturday morning market in Rancho San Diego and another in Mission Hills on Friday nights. LaChance is kept busy in a couple of other San Diego spots.

San Diego has the perfect climate for year-round farmers markets. We’ll look in on three to get a sampling of the organic vibes: The Little Italy Mercado (Saturdays 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.), Hillcrest (Sundays 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.), and Leucadia (Sundays 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.).

Little Italy Mercado stretches from the Date Street and Kettner Boulevard intersection, and east to Union Street. It provides a seemingly endless stream of useful items to devour and enjoy. One finds organic produce, plants, herbs, Asian vegetables, hydroponically produced edibles, flowers, hummus, pastries, honey, fish and vegan fare—and a band rocking out all the while.

Anthony DiCarlo created "xroads" which imports several premium-grade salts harvested the old fashioned way and sold in small handmade baskets. One of the salts is pink from the shrimp that dominate the waters.

The Hillcrest farmers market is in the DMV parking lot just off of Washington Boulevard, and is packed with patrons, vendors, and musicians. It's a festive atmosphere.

Beth Winegarden says she and her husband recently became vegetarians. "I buy vegetables, mostly,” she says. “I like the beets because I can't get them back home in Wisconsin."

Up the coast at the Paul Ecke Elementary School in Leucadia, Susan Clark has become a market devotee.

"I like it because of the quality of the produce and because it's organic,” says Clark. “For me, it's about organics and taste, and everything tastes amazing. It's a wonderful way to spend a morning…It's lots of fun to get all the free samples. And the music makes a difference."

Clark says when she first visited the market she taste-tested some spaghetti sauce from a vendor named Pete and thought it was pretty good. "But when I got home and cooked with it I said, ‘Wow, this is really good!’"

I ask Pete why he sells his homemade sauces in Leucadia despite a 120-mile roundtrip voyage to get here. "I like the variety here, and Ron LaChance makes everyone feel comfortable,” he says. “We get people from all over the USA, Canada, and some from Europe because this is the go-to place. It helps the local vendors get their stuff all over the world. People love to take in the whole area when coming here, going up and down the highway. It's a special spot."

For a list of other offerings, click here for a list of: San Diego farmers markets.