Best of 2003: Best Quality Supermarkets North Of I-8

Harvest Ranch Markets and Jonathan's
Harvest Ranch Market, 1555 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar, 858-847-0555
Harvest Ranch Market, 162 South Rancho Santa Fe Road, Encinitas, 760-944-6898
Jonathan's, 7611 Fay Avenue, La Jolla, 858-459-2677

Harvest Ranch and Jonathan's offer a similar array of grocery products to Whole Foods, but at these stores, the emphasis is more on "gourmet" than "natural foods." But who can tell the difference between these terms now, given that the "natural" stuff has so much more flavor than the "unnatural" foods? Prices for commonplace items (e.g., packaged cookies and crackers) tend to be ridiculous -- but seasonal foods can be surprisingly reasonable. During Copper River salmon season, for instance, Jonathan's was charging less for the prize fish than the few chain groceries that carried it.