Still my favorite grocery store in SD, and absolutely the best place to go for fresh and unique produce. I cook a lot of my meals, and find that the quality of goods at Specialty make a huge impact on how my dishes come out. I also love the staff here - they're always happy to help you find a unique item or point out new produce to try! Special thanks to Grace in particular for helping me learn more about different persimmons, cucamelons, and lilly pilly berries. read more

Really cool grocery store, you have to sign in and register as a safety issue because of forklifts being used around the location. You also have to wear gloves which I wasn't sure why considering people handle baskets that aren't cleaned and touch their phones and door handles to fridges and employees aren't wearing them etc... seems more viable to have hand washing around or sanitizer. But had some fun items, mostly tons of edible flowers and seasoning. I don't think I'd go back for basic produce as I saw a lot of it. But if they list the unique items like cucumber lemons or the different squash that's kinda fun. read more

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Love Specialty Produce! The place to go when you want wonderful produce!! And tons of other edibles. Not those kind! read more

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I just went to see what kind of things they carry. Great place if you're a chef. They have huge selection of every seasoning you can think of. Also, a pretty big selection of edible flowers. Other than that, nothing I saw wowed me. I picked up a seasoning and a few of those viral apples - Lucy Glo. I got a little turned around based on where I parked. Just follow the red brick wall towards the housing and you will see a entrance sign. Be sure to sign in on the kiosk. There is a greet at the front who was very friendly and told me how things worked. They also have gloves at the entrance to wear to protect their items. read more

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I've heard about this spot and was curious about the hype.....I see now AMBIANCE: Parking: Hancock street is a street with a lot of parking but it can get busy, if it works for you, you're not too far away from the trolley! Seating: Not really just a grab and go type of spot. Vibes: Right on Hancock street so a lot of businesses and apartments, nothing too flashy. Walking into Specialty Produce feels like exploring a premium marketplace space for fruits and vegetables. The layout is clean and organized, the produce is beautifully displayed, and you can tell they place a strong emphasis on careful sourcing and seasonal variety. FOOD: Star Apple (Recommend) Not your everyday apple! Think of a mix of the sweetness of a lychee, gentleness of a pear, jelly-ness of a grape, and creamy-ness of coconut. A good change of pace of fruits. Don't eat the seeds! CUSTOMER SERVICE: Great! Friendly people and quick with the service. TL; DR OVERALL: 5 Stars. I've never been to a place like it... I thought Whole Foods was nice but this is something different. Great selections, fair prices, and a 1 of 1on experience. If you're seeking fresh, top-tier produce beyond the usual chain store offerings, Specialty Produce is worth your time. The quality and selection are impressive, the vibe is professional yet friendly, and you get a feeling of value for what you pay. I'll definitely return and keep exploring their seasonal specials. TIPS: * Check out their website/social media for their seasonal produce! read more

Specialty Produce - Woooo! - Fruits & Veggies Near Me - San Diego, California

If you are a local restaurant owner, local chef, a home cook, or simply a food aficionado, Specialty Foods of San Diego is definitely a place one has to get to know. In addition to all the abundance of local great produce, they also offer a melee of herb and spices, an impressive line-up of cheeses and dairy products, cured meats and fresh prime meats, wholesome breads, and common place pantry items like sugar and flour etc. Three things that really impressed me during my visit was the beautiful peppers and mushrooms that they offer. The poblano peppers were outstanding and aching to be roasted and stuffed, and the Toro de Oro yellow peppers were glistening with color ready to be tossed in one's favorite salad or dish. Other items that stood out were all the leafy greens, selection of fresh berries, outstanding root vegetables, and a huge bag of ready peeled garlic! The staff members were all very welcoming and friendly. I liked that they asked how I was and if I needed any help locating an item. read more

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My family wanted to take me to specialty produce why? Because it's just a cool place to find unusual and fresh produce. When you get there you must sign up and grab a pair of rubber gloves. I started wandering around the store got a few bags and started gathering some produce. They had everything from vintage sodas, truffles. Oils, spices, bread. They had a whole cooler with caviar and truffles. It's definitely worth it to go and look around. You can look online and see what the current produce they have before going. read more

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If you use Google maps to find this place, you might be confused to where the entrance is. It took me to the parking space by the green walls and I walked around to and saw a couple of doors (for employees and they were locked) and a "garage" looking entrance but it was closed. I thought hmm perhaps they decided to close early today (It was a Sunday, 30 min to closing time), so I left. The second time, I found the same doors were still locked. Strange. It's in the middle of the day, no reason for them to close early. Luckily I found someone to point me to the entrance. Here's the entrance: cross streets of Estudillo St and Hancock St! I had fun finding the entrance. Apart from a little hide and seek, this store is a gem! You have to sign up and wear gloves before going into the warehouse but all the produce in there seems so fresh. Love the variety of vegetables and fruits that I can get in here. I never knew this place existed until now. read more

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Specialty Produce is the ultimate produce vendor. They carry fruits and vegetables that aren't found anywhere else. Every time I shop there, I feel like a little kid in Willie Wonka wotld, because they offer items that I've never even heard of before, and I am mesmerized by them. In addition to top-notch produce, they offer pantry items and some imported items that are sometimes hard to find in grocery stores, like type 00 flour. One note I have: take a jacket! It's a refrigerated warehouse and it's chilly! read more

Great place to find items you can't find somewhere else. Personnel is amable and the store always looks clean and organized. Quick service as well. Even right before entering the actual store. read more

My daughter brought me here. The edible flowers were my favorite to see, for restaurantsto use on their plates. The farm fresh fruits are so sweet and juicy, a tad pricey but worth it. We bought 2 peaches at $8 a pound. So many delicious fruits ans vegetables you can't find at yoir every day grocer. We bought a dlfew items and were pleased with the customer service. The store is fairly large, clean and a wide variety. We will be back for sure read more

If you can get past the small quirks to enter (you have to register and wear gloves. Little OCD) the produce itself is quite good. It's a bit on the pricey side but there are plenty of options here, including many speciality produce items (as the name suggests). In particular I've scored good Thai mangoes, dragon fruit, niche greens and herbs and mushrooms like lobsters and Chanterelles (okay so $50 a pound but they were amazing). Parking can be tricky despite a few dedicated spots, but it's that's partly on Sam Diego for always making parking tricky. This building is really spacious and has some dedicated sections, making it easy to find what you need and get out. Some nice frozen stuff and fridge sections as well for finding even more niche items. read more

This store is a marvel! Incredible selection from around the world. Top quality food in mostly restaurant sized portions. Pro's; part museum, part store. They carry lots of local food items that can be used as incredible gifts like jams, candy, pies, salami's. Lots of imported ingredients including a large selection of truffles and caviar. Staff is helpful! Con's; oddly laid out. Some fridges open to shop some not. Some area's of the where house are shippable some are not. You have to where gloves while you shop. You should bring a jacket - you are inside's refrigerators and freezers. Prices are missing from at least half of the items and the app doesn't have a scanner and they used to have some self scanners but no longer do. read more

Jaw dropped. I would have to say it's like a mini business Costco with items you can buy large quantities of . Upon entering you verify your membership (or sign up-relatively easy) and are required to put on gloves for hygiene purposes (love that). Staff are all welcoming and helpful with showing us where certain items can be located and offered a bag of ice to keep our items fresh due to our concern of having perishable goods in the car heat. Facility is well stocked, neat, cleaned, and takes additional measures to prevent unsafe food handling risk. Will definitely be returning. read more

Truly a gem of a place. Of course, a lot of the produce and items sold are expensive--but the quality and freshness of everything is apparent. The QR code wall of all produce available is incredible, sooo well done and unique to what I have experienced in other specialty stores. A lot of the QR codes didn't actually work for me, and I'm not sure why, but ensuring those are all functional would be helpful as I was curious about a lot of produce they have available and love the feature. For certain items without a listed price, there's a scanner/look-up device you can use to find out. I bought the buzz button edible flowers for cocktails and they were cheaper than buying them from Amazon or various online stores. About ~$17.50 for a pack of 50. The store is overall so enjoyable to walk through and the set-up is pleasing. The workers are also lovely and helpful. Excited to come here more for my specialty items. read more

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If you have ever wanted to experience the sheer, unadulterated thrill of paying triple for your groceries to be treated like a biological hazard while having your personal data harvested, this is your spot. I've listened to people rant and rave about this local "legend" for years but I realize they were just a bunch of gassed up suckers happy to get fleeced in this stupid warehouse where youre treated like a poor, unwashed commoner and where the vibe is pretentious hostility that gives "If you have to ask how much it is then you're probably too broke to breathe this air". Reading these 5-star reviews is CRAZY. Who are these people?? "uhhh but dude they have CUCUMELONS and some berry youve never heard of...." "Bro...Its the GO-TO place for the best produce in SD....." Oh yea??? I needed cherry tomatoes for a pasta dish I make every week. It would have cost me $28 for four small handfuls of Conventional/non-organic cherry tomatoes ($7.99 for 5 or 6 medium-sized cherry tomatoes). To the normal San Diegans who care about how much they spend on produce: These idiots are helping to make this ok. Don't contribute to this, please. And for the happy members of this cult: Empty-headed PARROTS! You deserve this place. I hope you eat too many flowers and get the runs. read more

This store is great. They have a variety of grains, fruits, vegetables and edible flowers. Its very clean and the employees are all very welcoming. Its a great place to find herbs, and unique vegetables. Everything looks very fresh. read more

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So cool that this is open to the public, we visited while on vacation this weekend and we flew home with a suitcase full of new citrus we've never tried before read more

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I absolutely love this grocery store. Well it's more of a warehouse for produce, the quality and organization is well thought out. Prices are hard to find but they have QR codes and a mini pad to look up. Definitely come here if you want great quality produce or meats! (Eyeing the whole 4lb guanciale!!) The prices are extremely reasonable too, expected to be more expensive for the quality. But definitely good!! Customer service here is amazing as well! read more

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We went again to shop for produce and had another stellar experience. The organic produce is exemplary and plentiful. More edible flowers than any where I have ever seen in market! So many varieties of herbs and micro greens. The squash blossoms were huge and beautiful. Again we purchased osetra caviar at 50% what most gourmet markets charge! The staff are all knowledgeable and eager to help. We are so lucky it is just 10 minutes from our house! read more

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Thoroughly impressed with the food selection. From exotic produce, edible flowers and the variety of spices and nuts, definitely worth a trip. Open to the public. Being a foodie, it's a real experience. read more

Ths place has been on my list since I see them at the farmers markets. Im considering the subscription produce box, but have not been able to commit as I am not sure I would use all the items provided. Coming to the store allowed me to pick what I knew I would eat. They have so many fresh produce options and new or exotic options that you won't see in the regular grocery store. I didn't realize they also sell edible flowers so noted for next time I want to do baking or cocktails with them. Parking can be a strain, but worth waiting/driving around. Highly recommend to visit the store of not wanting to commit to a subscription box. read more

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Stumbled into a temple of flavor masquerading as a produce distribution center just off the 5. I'd seen their trucks before--idling outside restaurants that actually give a damn--but had no idea what was hiding behind those walls. A cooking demo dragged me into the building, but we were early, and that gave me time to wander. Inside? Not your average market. Not even close. This place is a fever dream for anyone who worships at the altar of food. Piles of strange and beautiful produce--some I knew, most I didn't--nuts, beans, cheeses that whispered stories from far-off places. It wasn't sterile or curated to death. It was raw, real, and humming with possibility. This wasn't about shopping. This was about being inspired. About stumbling across a knobby, alien-looking root and suddenly needing to turn it into dinner. It made you want to cook. To feed people. To create something that makes someone's eyes go wide with surprise and pleasure. I didn't have nearly enough time. But places like this remind you why food matters. Why it's worth the effort. Why we bother. read more

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This is place is exactly what it's name is a special place and such an educational store. Each fruit or vegetable has a QR code to help explain where each item is from and ways to cook it. This is a place where you get to experience fruits and vegetables from around the world without leaving the confines of sunny San diego. The suppliers for the mass majority of San Diego restaurants can find anything and everything. It's I am only accustomed to seeing dried was so intriguing to see them fresh. The delectable selection changes depending on the seasons. Even thought they are so kind to allow patrons visit during specific hours the employees still make time to check in dije you wander around to make sure you are ok and or answering any questions. They have updated the market showcasing all the unique finds! There isn't much parking but if you get a chance you should see what beautiful vegetables and produce are produced around the world. read more

We went here for the first time because we see the trucks driving all over town and were curious. It's definitely geared towards executive chefs which we are not, but we just like to experiment with fun ingredients while cooking at home. What an amazing experience! This place has more of a warehouse vibe but the presentation and organization of all the products is top notch. If you are into seasonal and exotic produce, you will love this place. The staff was all very helpful and friendly. We will definitely be coming here regularly. read more

As you try to locate Specialty Produce, you drive through what looks like warehouses and large trucks with trailers and the like. When you finally arrive, find parking, and enter the building, the company has gone through a lot of effort to create a unique shopping experience as well as an educational experience as well. To see all the unique variety of produce blew my mind!!! As such a great place to find unique and maybe rare items as well. Before entering, you need to put on gloves and sign in on an iPad. I was impressed with the displays that provided background information on the produce industry and how Specialty Produce endeavors to be an advocate for the industry. This is a great place to take the family and friends!!! read more

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Foodie supermarket heaven! Seasonal and fresh produce along with specialty products. I found fruit purée for passion fruit, dragon fruit, persimmon, meyer lemon, asian pear, apricot, hibiscus, etc. They also have things like finger limes, lions mane mushrooms, micro sprouts, FRESH marzano tomatoes, and decorative edible flowers. While I wanted to buy half the store I ended up getting melons since they were in season and most likely to not be picked early and shelf-ripened. I will say it was the best honeydew I've had in a while. This place is fun to peruse if you're a foodie, curious, or are a restaurant/cafe owner. read more

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Wow'zer. Child had birthday party across street. Decided to take time to see what the story is. Entered. Saw signage. Register. Cashless. Put on gloves. No big deal. Proceeded walk towards entry . Addressed by person absent interest in being a greeter. Brown hair. Beard. Maybe he was confused and thought his role for the day was a bouncer, not a greeter. Regardless. I engage Brown Beard. Brown beard "have you been here before" Me "no" Brown beard "Did you read signage". Me "yes, before taking steps to register and put on gloves I wanted to confirm if you have organic fruits and vegetables". Brown beard... eye contact. No reply. Continues looking down to what appeared to be baggies being folded. Clearly a complex task but a master of multitasking might be able to speak and fold simultaneously. Nada... Me "do you have organic fruits and vegetables" Brown beard... no eye contact "yes, but you need to register and put on gloves before you can enter" Me "thank you, I simply wanted to look around prior to registering and putting on gloves" Brown beard... no eye contact, silence.... Me.. "thanks for you hospitality, but no thank you" Prior to registering and getting gloved up I simply wanted to confirm organic produce was available and peak around. Why register if you don't want to purchase. Feels like another way to join up for yet more spam. We spend oodles at farmers markets on the regular. The growers are friendly. You feel good spending your money with the folks selling what they produce. Grow up brown beard. Or, request a non greeter spot if you're too cool for the job of making customers feel good entering. First time visit. Last time visit. read more

Specialty Produce - Fruits & Veggies Near Me - San Diego, California

This place was recommended to me by a friend, and I'm so glad she did! They have the most beautiful produce and lots of variety! So many exotic fruits and veggies and edible flowers! It's amazing! I will say it's on the pricey side, so be aware of that. For example, I bought a pluot (plum/apricot crossover), a mango, and a donut peach and my total came out to like $16. All beautiful fruit and extremely delicious, but yeah, just a tad pricey. I'll definitely be back! read more

Specialty Produce - Fruits & Veggies Near Me - San Diego, California

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Very nice and helpful people, starting with the person who greets you at the front desk. The people in the various departments seem to really enjoy working there. I like the idea of wearing gloves. Everything seems so clean and organized. There were so many types of fruits and veggies. read more

This is not a Whole Foods or Sprouts; this is a warehouse. Do not expect to get the best customer service or the most comfortable shopping experience, but be prepared to be blown away by the selection of hard-to-find items. Definitely a lot of seasonal, rare produce and we had the opportunity to discover some amazing apple varieties this time. If you are into cooking, definitely a place to stop by and check out. Be prepared to register with your phone number and sign a waiver. They also require you to wear gloves inside the warehouse. read more

This place is great and have a large variety of fruits and produce. Excellent selection of mushrooms and edible flowers. I highly recommend it . read more

Nice find. My wife loves fresh produce and this place was amazing. had so many rare items not found anywhere else. all produce looked perfect. Staff was very helpful in explaining what rare items are and how restaurants use them. A must visit when in the area. read more

I was amazed. I bet other reviews say the same. If you love fresh fruits veggies and fungi this is thee place. Overwhelming the first time but in the best way. Staff was extremely nice and helpful as I navigated the place. The walk in is amazing with a rotating mechanism to display the goods. Can't say enough good things about this place. They also update their IG which is inspiring af when I want to make in season recipes. read more

Specialty Produce - Cool shtuff - Fruits & Veggies Near Me - San Diego, California

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Let me preface this by saying I LOVE grocery shopping. One of my favorite things when traveling is wandering around local grocery stores and markets. That passion plus a need for Pacific Beach Peanut Butter to take home (they no longer sell at the farmer's markets) lead me to Specialty Produce, both a working supply warehouse and grocer. First time here, you sign up at an iPad (later visits require just checking in), sanitize your hands, and wear a pair of their provided single use gloves*. *This is why the low stars- why the gloves?! After donning the gloves they don't care if you reach into your purse, touch everything, etc... Having clean (ahem, sanitized hands) provides the same protection without the garbage waste due to the gloves. I really wish non-healthcare professionals would educate themselves on this. Moving on though, we went in, browsed the aisles and made our purchases. A variety of items, both staples and artisanal items from spices, dry goods, to produce and dairy items. Can buy in bulk or as much as you need. It is a bit pricey but when looking for a specific item I think that is worth it! read more

Specialty Produce - Fruits & Veggies Near Me - San Diego, California

I was a kid in a candy store at specialty produce recently. Can I just say, I have never seen such a unique array of produce! I was impressed. Pink pineapples, black truffles, Japanese pears and mushrooms galore. I did not need any of these items, but they needed me. I couldn't wait to go home and figure out what I'd be cooking with this produce. The place is very organized and I really appreciated how friendly everyone was. Do not be shy to ask if they have something! The employees are open to every question you have and will point you in the right direction. I really loved that they gave me a great substitute for something they didn't carry. This place is wonderful. If you want to cook with new ingredients or are having trouble finding something, most definitely check this place out. read more

Specialty Produce - Come to mama - Fruits & Veggies Near Me - San Diego, California

Wow. This place rules and my only complaint is that I didn't know this gem existed until a friend mentioned it! I had a dinner party with some friends planned and wanted to show off a bit so I thought this place would be perfect, and it was. It can be a bit overwhelming when first entering because there's so much to look at! Foodies could probably spend half a day here. Luckily, the staff was super helpful and friendly and helped me find my way. Special shout out to Sam, he was in their farmers market section and was my guide for the day. I explained my objective for my dinner party and he knew exactly what to give me. He explained some rare fruits (sapodilla was my favorite from my haul) and what they taste like as well as some recipes for their awesome veggie selection. He also walked around and gave me a mini tour, it was much appreciated! I got an assortment of goodies from both the farmers market and some bulk produce from their main cooler. It's nice to have options in quality if you don't need top tier stuff. Will 100% be back and I'm happy to report my friends were blown away!! Don't sleep on this San Diego jewel! read more

What a special find! This is really a gourmet Restaurant Supply kind of store but equipped for consumers. You have to fill out a membership, which is free, and put on provided gloves to enter. Excellent variety of unusual ingredients and rare fruits however be prepared to pay nearly absurd prices for the rarest fruits averaging at $30 a pound. If you look around, you can find overpriced and fair priced items. Which is fine if you need them for a special meal and the bulk prices are fair. It's really nice to be able to pick up a 50 pound bag of an artisan organic flour without special ordering. This is definitely one of my go to spots in San Diego now. read more

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Wow. How have I lived in San Diego for all these years and not gone to Specialty Produce before? Amazing selection of everything but they also have lots of things that are difficult to find at other places (kumquats, kiwi berries). Also cheeses, meats and lots of other food products. Everyone is super helpful. I was asked by 3 different people if I needed help finding something. If they didn't know, they would go and find the person responsible for that section. Definitely coming back! read more

Specialty Produce - Cold room of produce. - Fruits & Veggies Near Me - San Diego, California

Great selection and very polite staff. Extremely fresh local produce. A very professional business.