Little Italy, that is, where a new farmer’s market calling itself the Little Italy Mercato has just opened every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The action takes place in the three blocks along Date Street between Kettner and State. Being brand-new, it doesn’t yet match up to the La Jolla or Hillcrest or Carlsbad farmer’s markets. But there’s still a decent of mix of vendors offering produce, cheese, breads, pastries, and fish, plus some of the usual jewelry makers and gourmet dogfood treat purveyors and crafters that always show up at these venues.
Though small, the new market enlivens what’s already an extraordinarily charming street scene. The chairs and benches and little piazzas along India, all the restaurants that have opened, all the new housing that’s been built (about 2,250 unit since 1992, when the Center City Development Corporation began pouring in the first of what since has added up to about $20 million) — it’s all working together to make this one of San Diego’s most interesting enclaves.
