23rd & Mission Produce

I Have been a lot of Spanish Grocery stores... And what I like most about this Store is The Inca cola soda, Spanish Ice Cream and flavor that I like most is the coconut, Strawberry Cream Bars... They also have some interesting Spanish Spices!!!

Not too different from other markets in the area BUT this place has passion fruit juice. So this is my new favorite market. Place looks like a typical market, service is also good here.

I went to 23rd and mission for supporting a local business and buying fresh produce. The only hole experience was good until I checked the receipt after checking out and things looked fishy! I was charged -$8.29 for *half* gallon horizon milk!$9 for a bunch of small dole bananas$8 for a bag cherries $3 for a handful green beans$8 for an unknown item Many items charged but only listed as produce in the receipt. I immediately went back and asked the cashier who said their milk is more expensive than grocery stores. I asked her which items cost $9,$8,$9 and she told me it was the cherries, bananas and she didn't know what the third expensive item was! I checked price for cherries and asked her to weigh again, she confirmed they should actually have cost $5($2.99/lb)! Said small bananas are $9 a bunch and $4.99/lb beans but still didn't add up to $3. I asked her to redo my checkout at which point she looked flustered and said she was not being dishonest. I didn't have the time or energy to deal with this and returned everything I purchased and left.Please check your receipts before you leave and do not trust the cashier lady.

This is a good produce market in the heart of the Mission. It is not trendy and sometimes I wish they had more organic produce but the quality of the fruit and vegetables is really good. The people who work here are also really nice.

I like shopping small businesses. Local produce stores often provide prices and that fresh picked quality like your local farmer's market. So why not save money and help out a small local business.I've been coming to this Produce market since I was a kid helping my grandmother gather what she needed to put together meals. I remember this place being the low cost place to shop then and it still is. I come here typically to buy the usual fruits and veggies, my staples. But I often come here after buying crab next door at Fresh Meat Market. I get the onions, shallots, garlic, lemons and herbs I need to make that crab so tasty. I loaded up on packaged spices for .70 each, so I can replenish my supplies. I'd rather save some money and refill my containers and get exactly what I need and maybe something I haven't tried before. Be smart, save money and shop local.

I love going to this market. Costa, the proprietor, greets everyone in the friendliest way. For 34 years he's been stocking this stand and helping customers pick out the perfect melons. He took over from his boss 20 years ago and it's clear he takes pride in what he does. What I like to get there - fresh produce! Mainly- green onions- carrots (check out how neatly they line them up!)- bok choy- cilantro- bananas, from mini to regular to plantain - lemons, limes, oranges, tangerines- stone fruits when in season- ginger- garlic- yams- onions- zucchini- squash - chilis, peppers, jalapeños- avocados a-plentyThey take cash and card, and will help you bag your groceries. I try to pay cash since the prices are already so cheap and I hate the idea of a percentage lost by local business.Thanks, Costa. Always a pleasure.

*** Updated 12/15/09 ***I don't think there's anything at all special about 23rd & Mission Produce, except the fact that Pat Unterman (of the Food Lover's Guide) liked the mangoes and avocados she got here once. But high-quality, affordable produce is easy to come by in these parts; you gotta have a little character to really build up a fan base. So I prefer to think of this place as a foil to the far more charming La Loma down the street--less of a "streetside rainbow" effect, oddly uncrammed interior, no service with a smile, and worst of all, no home-baked goodies that I could see.

For the first time in my life, I had a serious craving for VEGETABLES. Not chocolate, not chips, vegetables. I'm as surprised as you! But after a couple weeks in Spain (beautiful land of the cheese, meat, starch, and fried), I was hankering for some ... tomatoes? [But in my defense, I DID eat olives (they grow on trees right?), an orange (ok technically it was marzipan shaped like an orange but it had orange flavor), and of course wine (wine = grape juice = grape = fruit).] Luckily, 23rd & Mission Produce is conveniently located in da 'hood and carries a decent, inexpensive selection of produce for any dietary detox needs. This ain't no farmer's market. This ain't no Safeway either. (Just make sure you bring cash for the caja because here your credit cards mean nada.)

I shop at this produce market very often because:1) fruits and vegetables are fresh and affordable .2) there is all type of veggies including Chinese vegetables. 3) this place is clean and super convenient. After I finish here, I go to next door FRESH MEAT SEAFOOD MARKET to buy my meat and fish. 4) customer service is great.5) most of the time fruits are sweet and juicy.With less than $10, I get a full arm of all type of fruits. I will come back!

I have a sneaking suspicion that the vegetables here are covered with all the DDT the U.S. banned 30 years ago, but still kept selling to developing nations. In that vein, I might be more concerned about the fact that everything here comes from the depths of Guatemala (disclaimer: theory only) when I have money, but, for now, $1 for 10 limes? When you're looking for a cheap path to self-destruction (i.e., drinking Stoli alone more nights than not), you need your cheap limes. The sweet Latina girl at the counter always seems perplexed that I've brought my own bag. I'm sure she's thinking, "why do you care about saving the planet when you're going home to ruin your liver and brain with a Stoli & DDT?"Cheers!