But more importantly, this
market provides an essential element of the Mission Hills community. “Mission Hills is a smaller, but very
steady and dedicated crowd,” says Green Fix Organic Smoothie seller, Daniel. Quite simply,
the neighborhood relies on the market and the market relies on the
neighborhood. In the middle of my chat with Daniel, three people came up with
empty jugs to fill, and he knew them all by name. Like some raw green version
of Cheers.
Name: Daniel
Market: Green Fix Organic Smoothies
What does everybody need to try?:
“We sell the Healthiest Smoothie in the world. It’s 100% organic, with greens (kale,
chard, collard greens, romaine lettuce, spinach, dandelion greens, parsley)
pure water, apple juice, apple, banana, and flax seeds. You can get original,
or without apple juice or just with the greens if you’d like.”
This is a true farmer’s
market business, with many of his organic greens coming from local farms, such
as Suzy’s Farm in the south bay.
You can find Daniel and Green Fix Organic Smoothies here at Mission
Hills, Little Italy, Hillcrest, North Park, Ocean Beach, and Mission Valley.
A little down the block long
market I came across one of my favorite vendors at Spring Hill Farms. Although
I do love some Spring Hill cheese, it really is the friendly face selling these creamy
creations that’s worth the trip.
Meet the gal behind the cheese:
Name: Kim
What does everybody need to
try from Spring Hill?: “Well, everybody loves the Goat White Cheddar. It’s the
most popular and pretty amazing. My favorite is the Jersey Pesto Cheddar. But
the wildest cheese we sell that everybody NEEDS to try is Quark.”
“???”
“Yes, Quark. This hard to
find, nearly unknown German cheese, is like a cream cheese made of whey. So,
it’s high is protein, low in fat, and awesome. Try some. This is lemon flavor.”
She slices up a piece of
French bread and scoops on a hunk of this whipped up goodness.
This find is exactly why you talk to the vendors. Light, flavorful, and all kinds of cheesy.
“Wouldn’t that just rule
with some strawberries?”
Kim has only held down the fort
at Spring Hill for just a few months now and loves every day of it. Standing
next to an older lady clown painting children’s faces and a young guy
entertaining the market with Bob Marley tunes, Kim breaks it down for me. “Let’s
be honest. People like flowers and produce, but people get stoked on cheese.
I’m new to all of this, so don’t hold me to it, but we’re the only cheese
sellers at any of the markets. Everyone wants to visit me to try some cheese and talk.”
A little about Spring Hill
Farms: Located in Petaluma, CA, Spring Hill uses only Jersey cows in their
cheese production. The jersey cows produce a lower quantity, higher quality
milk that makes killer cheeses. They only sell at the farmer’s markets and to local restaurants.
You can find them at your
local market in: Hillcrest, Little Italy, Adams Ave, and Horton Plaza.
To get it mixed in by the
pros, find their cheese at: The Linkery, Starlite Lounge, Café Chloe, Tender
Greens, O’Brothers, Cowboy Star, and many others in town.