Fun for Sunday: TPHS Farmers Market

Sage Rosskopf, Staff Writer • October 15, 2025

The five co-founders of Cali Empanadas make food and manage the stand. Originally from Los Angeles, Calo Empanadas has brought in many local and hungry costumers.

The school’s front parking lot transforms into a center of culture and cuisine every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Booths full of food, jewelry and clothes line the painted asphalt, usually filled with students’ questionable parking jobs. People of all ages come to enjoy the blissfully lazy Sundays, grabbing a bite to eat or listening to the acoustic band at the market.

One member of the community, Ann Allen, recently strolled through the market with her dog.

There is something for everyone with stands selling anything from crystals to vintage items. The market also boasts a wide selection of food, with boba tea and dumplings at one stand and greek yogurt and French bread at the next. A popular choice for customers is the fresh produce straight from California farms.

Tables are scattered all around for patrons to sit and enjoy the music and the peaceful environment. Many of the kids at the market gravitate toward the plentiful free samples or the vibrant-colored bouncy houses near the booths.

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Savannah Williams (10) biked to the market last Sunday with her friends.

“What’s great about it is the vendors were super nice, everything’s really tasty and the prices were good,” Williams said.

While the market satisfies most peoples’ expectations, there is some room for improvement.

“If they had more food that’d be good because they [already] have a lot of products,” Williams said. “Also, I didn’t hear about the market, I was just driving by one day and saw it on the road … I feel like if they advertised it, there would be a lot more customers because a lot of people around here really enjoy farmers markets.”

Nevertheless, the market still manages to bring in a plethora of people. One stand, Cali Empanadas, attracts a crowd of customers every week.

“We started 2 years ago in LA and are now here at this market and also in the La Jolla Farmers Market,” Co-founder Karín Ventrán said.

The school parking lot hosts a farmer’s market every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Community members browsed the market on a sunny, blue-skied Sunday. (Sage Rosskopf)

The empanadas are made of various ingredients such as corn, flour, pork, chicken, potato and chick peas and from these vendors, familial love.

“These are Colombian empanadas and we are 5 Latin women who were inspired to create something fun,” Ventrán said. “When [we] make empanadas, everybody comes to the house and it helps reunite the family.”

TPHS student, Stella Olsen (11) tried Cali Empanadas and enjoyed her overall experience at the market.

“My friend and I visited all the shops and got a bunch of different types of samples,” Olsen said. “I ended up getting an empanada and it was really good.”

These samples are a large draw and allow the community to broaden their horizons by trying various cuisines. Locals also appreciate the market’s convenient location.

“I really like the market because it’s close to my house,” Olsen said. “I can walk there and it was just a really fun, quick experience on a Sunday when I didn’t have anything to do. Usually the farmers market in Del Mar is a little too far for me, and [here I get to] see a lot of people I know at Torrey.”

This addition to the school and Carmel Valley connects people and cultures. In some ways, the warmth and positivity this market brings can help chase away any “Sunday Scaries” that students and adults alike feel when a new week approaches. This fun, serene event provides an opportunity to take a step back and escape the stress and chaos from everyday life.

“I would recommend it to people,” Allen said. “I moved out of the area a year ago and think it’s a great way to bring the community together.”

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About the Contributors

Sage Rosskopf, Staff Writer

As she enters her Junior year of high school, Sage Rosskopf is ecstatic to add the Falconer to her repertoire this year as a first year staff writer. Along with writing and journalism, her hobbies include dancing, playing beach volleyball, singing and playing guitar, and playing soccer. On an average day, one could find Rosskopf listening to various types of music 90% of the day, surfing at Del Mar, or going on random adventures with friends and family. She also adores her tuxedo cat named Calcetines, but harbors the slightest bit of resentment towards him for attacking a neighbor and almost getting the family sued. . . ‘Cal’ is now an indoor cat. Her goals and dreams for this year include: fostering her creative side through writing and everyday life, spending as much quality time with friends and family as her schedule allows, and of course, learning more about the community while crafting articles for the Falconer she is proud of!

Sarina Feng, Editor-in-Chief

With a pack of instant noodles, a freshly ruined sleep schedule and her new desk companion — Bob the felted chicken — Sarina Feng is ready to take on senior year and her third year on the Falconer. As Editor-in-Chief, she hopes to strengthen the bonds within the tight-knit staff while delivering impactful reporting and a quality publication. Feng’s list of hobbies has grown alongside her love for journalism; outside of school and other responsibilities, she enjoys writing, photography, composing music, trying new experiences, overthinking and stargazing on the beach. Other beloved pastimes include listening to music and rewatching favorite animated films. Most often, you can find her sunbathing on the floor or working on some obscure passion project. She looks forward to a final year of high school filled with lasting memories in the newsroom and beyond.