Los Cabos Organic Farmers’ Market Opens for Cruising Season

Byline: Capt. Pat Rains

SAN JOSE DEL CABO, Mexico — Provisioning with organic foods just got easier in San Jose del Cabo, because the region’s only organic farmers’ market reopened last week. It will stay open for the fall, winter and spring seasons.

Every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the San Jose Mercado Organico (SanJoMO) is the place to come for local organically grown fruits and vegetables, according to the Gringo Gazette newspaper.

“Produce growers rise early to harvest their crops every Saturday for the San Jose market,” said Carrie Duncan of the Gringo Gazette.

Bouquets of dried cooking herbs tied with ribbons share the open-air displays with bags of sun-dried mangoes and papayas, baskets of fresh organic strawberries and jars of fruit marmalades — all locally produced with sustainable methods.

Local bakeries create healthy cookies, cakes, bars and breads for this weekly market — some using soy flour, quinoa and other gluten-free recipes. Some are sweetened only with local honey or dried fruits.

Several popular restaurants in Los Cabos have their chefs prepare specialty foods, such as fresh guacamole, vegetarian lasagna and mango salsa — plus, an array of lunch items ranging from hot quesadillas to spinach salads, packaged to go (para llevar) or to eat on the spot. Some vendors bring barbecue and roast lunch items, and visitors often line up for fresh hot meals.

Holiday tamales and traditional posada foods will be appearing at the Mercado Organico every Saturday in December, one vendor said. Vendors take orders in advance — a handy service for boaters in the nearby marinas of Puerto Los Cabos and Cabo San Lucas.

“You might want to plan to eat some of your purchase for lunch at the market’s shady picnic grounds alongside the river,” Duncan said. This could make a nice outing for boaters in small groups. Duncan said local artists bring their weavings, pottery and paintings to sell, and jazz musicians and mimes often perform.

The river park area where San Jose Mercado Organico sets up each Saturday is located at the northeast edge of San Jose del Cabo, just off the unpaved extension of Calle Centenario, where it turns east and crosses the riverbed.

For directions, a map and more details, visit sanjomo.com or call the market manager, Jarumy Yocupicio, at 011 52 (624) 108-4235.