Lemon Grove was home to a booming lemon cultivation industry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. At its peak, Lemon Grove produced millions of pounds of citrus annually, with lemons shipped by rail across the country. The town’s name became synonymous with the bright fruit, and while most of the large citrus groves disappeared after World War II with suburban development, even today, lemon trees dot backyards and sidewalks. The Thrive Lemon Grove Farmers’ Market acts as a connection to this agricultural past, allowing residents and visitors to support local farmers and access fresh produce, including citrus from hyperlocal and backyard growers.

Every Thursday from 4 to 7pm, Lemon Grove buzzes to life as community members converge at the Treganza Heritage Park location for a compact but vibrant farmers’ market. In the three years since the market opened, it has steadily grown into a beloved weekly gathering, transforming a modest lot into a lively hub of growers, creators, and neighbors. 

Joyce Moore, the president of Thrive Lemon Grove, shares that the organization’s first project was a community garden in 2014, followed by support for other social issues, such as fighting human trafficking. The farmers’ market began in 2022 from Moore’s passion for health and nutrition. “Farmers’ markets are really about how your food is grown and knowing what you are eating. You’re supporting your local farmers and you’re putting pure nutrition in your body,” Moore says.

At the cornerstone of the market and committed to the same cause is Project New Village, a local nonprofit focused on food equity in Southeastern San Diego County. Their flagship initiative, also launched in 2022, is People’s Produce Mobile Farmers Market, a solar-powered refrigerated truck stocked with fruits, vegetables, and herbs sourced from regional growers like Stehly Farms, Sage Mountain, and San Gabriel Ranch. The organization also works with microgrowers like backyard and community gardeners. To encourage these small producers, they help organize a grower group to share knowledge and develop crop plans. 

Rodney West, the People’s Produce Mobile Farmers Market manager and a grower himself, explained that they use an equitable food system model: “We ensure that local growers and food makers are paid fairly while also making fresh produce, grown with organic methods, available to underserved communities. We also support that effort by accepting EBT, WIC, and SNAP.” In addition, they tap into a grant program that provides $10 tokens in exchange for filling out a nutritional literacy survey in partnership with SDSU. Those tokens can be used to subsidize each People’s Produce purchase to make the local fruit and vegetable hauls more affordable. Late summer shoppers can expect flavorful tomatoes, sweet corn, and juicy donut nectarines, while fall brings greens like kale and chard, along with root vegetables.

Freshly baked goods like sourdough bread and bagels were also available from Stove In The Grove, run by Lemon Grove resident Steve Flynn, who decided to start selling his loaves at the market after perfecting his technique with family and friends. A slightly larger bakery operation also has a presence; Sourdough Shoppe is a microbakery based in Balboa Park where they bake tortillas, focaccia, cakes, pies, and crackers that are available for pickup at their Lemon Grove market pop-up. They also offer Neapolitan-style pizzas baked with a sourdough crust and fresh herbs that are a menu highlight on market days.

For Tijuana-style tacos and quesadillas, try family-run Big Boyz Tacos, also based in Lemon Grove, and their popular carne asada-loaded quesadilla with a homemade agua fresca. Or, sample a burrito from Tortillas de Lola. Their fresh namesake tortillas are hand-pressed, resulting in a pillowy, flavorful base for burritos and quesadillas.

Other Highlights to Explore in Lemon Grove

Neighborhood Restaurants 

• Cozy wine bar Zest Wine Bistro serves small plates and charcuterie boards, while next door, sister restaurant Giardino is a full Italian eatery. On Thursdays, the evening of the farmers’ market, Giardino offers a Date Night deal with dinner for two for $59.
• Lemon Grove Bistro is located in a historic building and features a mural that tells the story of Lemon Grove’s past, as well as an outdoor garden to dine in. 
• Roasted, marinated chicken cooked over an open flame is the highlight (and name inspiration) at family-run El Pollo Grill, a small restaurant that Rafael and Constanza Lopez opened in 1987.

Thrive’s Organic Community Garden

Thrive’s Organic Community Garden offers 41 raised beds for the neighborhood to grow seasonal produce, with volunteers on-site nearly every day to help local gardeners with their plots. 

7730 Central Avenue, Lemon Grove, CA 91945 

Busy Bee Garden Co-Op

Chelsea Gastelum leads a group of guerrilla gardeners where neighbors help neighbors create a greener Lemon Grove. Busy Bees gives away free native seeds and seedlings to help reduce cost barriers for home pollinator gardens. The community project approaches gardening with a co-op style: After volunteering at a project, you can opt for a yard makeover or help in your own garden.

» Follow @lemongrovemobilefarmersmarket on Instagram for market info.