Valley Farm Market Spring Valley — Local services in La Mesa

It's nice to have a trendy market so close to home, especially one with such a nice butcher built in. If you need basic staples, or don't have a shopping list but do have an interest in brands that are organic/locally owned/small business, Valley Farm has got you covered.

On the other hand... if there's something in particular you need and there's any doubt in your mind that Valley Farm has it, they almost absolutely don't have it. The number of times I've left this store without everything on my shopping list is staggering, probably 80% of the time. Beef broth, parmesan, cocoa powder, buttermilk, vermicelli, curry roux, the list is nigh infinite. What's really infuriating is that there are often so many similar products to what I'm looking for in niche, unfamiliar brands that I'm stuck standing in an aisle like an idiot giving a shelf a triple pass because it just feels like they should have what I'm looking for, but never do. Also sometimes the bougie brands are way overboard and it pays to pay attention to the prices, I picked up a chocolate bar and started walking away before I turned around and checked the price on a whim, $20! Who needs a $20 bar of chocolate...

The staff are kind and prices for the basic sundries are fair for the area, I hear their prepared food is great but haven't tried. I like shopping here but wish they had less choices of single items (an entire isle of meat rubs) and more different products altogether.

Update 04/24: After a year of coming here, I'm just over it. Done coming here. This place was charming at first but the more I came here the more issues I noticed.

The butcher service is cool, but every time I come in there's like 4 guys working the kitchen and packing product, I've had to stand there for minutes at times, even say 'Yo!' before I can get help from one of the several people milling around. And then half the time they act like they don't know what they're selling! I ask for boneless chicken thighs and they start looking around aimlessly for them, I ask for a prime cut and they give me choice, ask for 80/20 ground beef and they give me 90/10. I feel like I'm inconveniencing them...

-The prices are just beyond insane, they sell some things you can't get other places but the majority of the stock is the same stuff you can find at Albertsons and GrossOut down the street, marked up 200, sometimes 300% of what stuff costs at those other stores.

-Their produce sucks, I've purchased a ton of fruit and veg that turn out to be bad after getting it home, the fact that they don't sell local produce during prime harvest time for those things really sucks for how high-end a store they're...

11/28/24: stars being reduced from 5-3 stars

I love valley farms and as you can see below I have been a customer since 2010. I am so disappointed in them though and it is for a couple reasons:

We bought a turkey. I paid for 13 pounds of turkey. I went to weigh it at home and it is less than 10 lbs. I used several different ways to make sure I was correct. They took 10 dollars from me and while it isn’t a lot, it isn’t ethical. I requested in my notes to not have a bag , but that was not adhered to. Not too big of a deal just irritated

Last night we went to grab food and do some shopping. I wanted to get a Baja shrimp bowl. I’m hurt and just had surgery so my husband was getting it.. the person at the shack told my husband they don’t have a Baja shrimp bowl 👀 and just had pokey or salmon. I asked if it was on the menu still and it was. I went back and walked up to talk to the person. There was a brb in 5 min sign. The person was gone for at least double the time.. the line became super long.. and they were not back. I gave up and just left since I was hungry and didn’t have all day unfortunately.

There seems to be a loss in their customer service which really makes me sad. Like I mentioned, I’ve been a long time customer and tell everyone about them. Don’t be dishonest and lack customer service though; especially since you’re pretty expensive these days.

(5year old review here)Their bulk orders are awesome and well priced. Their cuts and fish selection is awesome and you can tell so fresh. We just moved back and I am so happy to be back to valley farms. You really won't want to buy meat from...

I am only reviewing the restaraunt / butcher shop as that is all I have bought from.

I have to say I'm sad they got rid of the BBQ shack, but I'm glad they're still selling some barbecue over in the back of the shop where the butcher shop is. I didn't order any meats, just a few pounds of the sauce. I have tried every state's style of BBQ and even some international versions and this sauce is my family's and my favorite by far. I'm glad I got to visit San Diego to restock! It took a little bit for the employees to find the code, but it was well worth the wait.

My biggest gripe is that this shop doesn't ship any of their stuff, as I would bite the shipping fee for a few pounds of their sauce every few months and would be willing to try some of their other in house stuff. Since they opened the La Jolla store, I think that would be a nice next step. My other minor gripe is that the shack had a sampler platter for $15/$20 that had a little bit of all the meats they cook and I didn't see that on the menu in the shop anymore. If they had that, I would have...