Valley Farm Market and High Marea Bring Specialty Groceries and Baja Flavors to Del Mar

Valley Farm Market is opening its third location in Del Mar, bringing nearly seven decades of family-owned specialty grocery expertise to the North County coast.

Opening alongside the market is High Marea, a new Baja-inspired fast-casual restaurant that cooks exclusively in tallow – no seed oils. Both debut this Saturday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

A Family Legacy Expands North

Founded in 1956 by Felix and Eleanor Marso, Valley Farm Market has served San Diego families through three generations.

The Del Mar location joins flagship stores in Spring Valley and La Jolla, bringing the market’s signature blend of old-world butcher shop craftsmanship and specialty grocery offerings to a new neighborhood.

Third-generation owner Derek Marso, a San Diego native who played defensive end at Kansas State and spent time with the San Diego Chargers, returned home to take over the family business.

Under his leadership, Valley Farm BBQ earned “San Diego’s Best BBQ” recognition from iHeart Radio while maintaining his grandfather’s original vision.

What You’ll Find at the Market

The new Del Mar store features Valley Farm Market’s full lineup: a traditional butcher counter with USDA Prime and specialty meats, fresh sustainable seafood, local organic produce, and the market’s award-winning house-made products, including Imperial Carne Asada, Pollo Asado, beef tallow, artisan jerky, and signature seasonings.

Prepared foods, hot coffee, and fresh smoothies are also available.

High Marea’s Approach to Baja Cuisine

Next door, High Marea focuses on fresh seafood and coastal cuisine with a specific commitment to cooking methods. Every dish uses tallow instead of seed oils, a deliberate choice that shapes the entire menu.

Tacos come on heirloom organic corn tortillas, while the seafood offerings include ceviche verde, seared ahi, and spicy poke. The grass-fed Sonoran ribeye represents the land-based options, and shareable plates feature elote plus tallow fries topped with melted baby jack cheese, salsa, and arrachera steak.

“Valley Farm Market has always been about feeding families the right way. High Marea is an extension of that – Baja flavors, fresh-caught seafood, and cooking methods we actually believe in. It’s the kind of place where you can grab a great taco and know exactly what’s in it,” said Derek Marso.

Grand Opening Celebrations

The opening kicks off Saturday morning with Valley Farm Market opening its doors, followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony mid-morning and High Marea’s debut shortly after. Festivities include giveaways, special discounts, and samples.

See you there!

A family-owned specialty grocer and a Baja-inspired restaurant committed to cooking the way they believe food should be prepared.

📆 Saturday, January 10, 2026 | Valley Farm Market opens 8:00 AM, Ribbon Cutting 10:30 AM, High Marea opens 11:00 AM
📍 1555 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar
ℹ️ More info here

See you there, San Diego!