There's nothing quite like the experience of spending a hot summer day at the beach, returning home and replenishing your nutrients by biting into a perfectly ripe strawberry or orange. Having a grapefruit for breakfast is a very healthy way to start the day. And who can forget some of the biggest customs of summertime season, eating sliced watermelon or grilling up some corn-on-the-cob on a warm summer evening.

There's no question, health consciousness has become quite the trend in San Diego, and it starts with eating plenty of fruits and vegetables. And there's no better way to guarantee getting the freshest and best grown produce into your kitchen than by purchasing from local San Diego Farmers. According to the San Diego County Farm Bureau website, the San Diego farming community consists of more than 6,000 farmers who work to make agriculture more than a $1.5 billion local industry.

Buying local has more than a few benefits for both the consumer as well as the community. Local produce is picked at the height of ripeness and gets transferred to local markets within a day or two so it's extremely fresh. As that food doesn't have far to travel, energy costs of both transportation and storage can be kept at a minimum so buying local has some environmental benefits. And supporting local family farms keeps money in the community as those local farms will turn around and invest that money back into other local merchants.

So, where can you buy local produce? Major retailers such as Vons and Ralphs don't normally carry locally grown products but lucky for you, San Diego offers a plethora of farmer's markets, farm stands and community supported agriculture programs to meet your needs and make sure you get the best quality produce in your pantry. With over 50 certified farmer's markets in the San Diego area, there literally isn't a single community that doesn't offer residents a chance to get their hands on some fresh fruits and veggies at least once a week. Some farmer's markets such as ones in Ocean Beach every Wednesday or Pacific Beach every Tuesday offer live music while customers browse for fresh produce, flowers and art or grab something to eat from local vendors.

Usually a couple of street blocks that are roped off, farmers markets can also offer other products such as fresh meats, hummis, salsa, guacamole or other types of sauces that are made from local products by people in the local area.

And markets have been the center of community activities pretty much since the dawn of civilization, so if you just want to hang out, talk with other locals and find out what's new in your neck of the woods, farmer's markets can be a great place to do that as well. Here's a list of all the farmer's markets in San Diego and the days on which they take place. Specific times and locations of the markets can be found online.Read More Here