Hanson's Market Offers Organic Food for San Clemente

San Clemente has a new outlet for natural and organic foods—Hanson’s Market, which has been open for two weeks.

Located on Pico, west of the I-5 onramp, Hanson’s boasts a 95-percent organic, locally grown produce section and focuses on natural and organic for its bulk foods and deli as well.

The grocery store also offers artisan breads baked in Laguna Hills and San Juan Capistrano, along with deli-made sandwiches and salads.

Owner Ron Castruita said much of his produce comes from San Diego County, a vast and prolific vegetable producer virtually untapped by retailers north of the Orange County line.

“The farmers we talk to are dying to work with people like us,” Castruita said. “What we focus on with our produce is locally sourced, from farm to fork.”

Oddly, there isn’t a well-established produce supply chain between Orange and San Diego counties, even though they're neighbors. Hanson’s produce manager, MariAnne Ridsdale, has been driving down to collectives and loading her own van with beets and other produce to get it to market. Employees have to hose the soil off the beets before they display them.

“It’s really accessible and we haven’t had it up here,” Ridsdale said. “So far, the biggest obstacle is having them deliver it to us.”

Castruita said the store plans to have a grand opening by the end of October, after its beer and wine license approved and a full selection of coffees is on hand.