Jordan Stone’s idea for a food market is different.

Her Old Town Temecula store, soon to open, serves two purposes: to sell artisan food produced within 100 miles of her location and to provide a venue for the small food vendor to get their products on the market at a price they can afford.

A cross between an indoor farmers’ market and a gourmet grocery, the products in the store will be varied.

While there are no hard and fast rules, the emphasis is on local, sustainable, natural and organic.

Fresh organic produce will be delivered from De Luz Farms and Nursery and Sage Mountain Farms near Aguanga.

M&M’s Nut House in Fallbrook will sell organic canned fruits and vegetables and there will be local sustainable meats, hormone-free dairy and cage-free eggs for sale along with fresh crusty artisan breads and too much more to mention.

Delaney’s Artisan Foods Market is expected to open in April, though it’s been several years in the making.

More than 10 years ago the concept came to Stone based on a San Francisco store she visited and the last year has seen it almost become a reality, as soon as construction is complete on her leased space on 5th St.

By charging a simple and set fee, an area vendor such as Lance Browning of Murrieta with Insanely Sweet can afford to get his caramel apples placed at eye level to tempt a buyer at a rate of $25 per week for a shelf.

The candy maker – who also includes brittles, Frazzels and fudge in his repertoire of toothsome treats – says it’s truly a great deal for him.

"If you look at it, it’s my store without the risk and all the work," said Browning, clad in an exaggerated purple top-hat and apron. "You would be foolish not to do it."

Browning, who has been making his confections for five years, has many outlets for his product but says this method is super simple.

When she first heard of the concept last year, LaRae Wiggins of Temecula jumped on board. She started the Good Cookie Company about a year ago and signed on to distribute through Stone’s market.

A stay-at-home mom who started looking for something else to do as her Advertisement
children got older, Wiggins decided to start making cookies that were all natural and had no preservatives.

Her brother coined her catch phrase while eating a sample: "Find your happy place…"

Wiggins has the standards, such as chocolate chip and white chocolate; however, for Delaney’s she will produce a "cookie of the month."

From a little farther away are Daddy Cakes, pancake and waffle mix with bright sunny packaging from Newport Beach.

The product is the brainchild of two dads and their experience making pancakes for the family and the fun involved.

Daddy Cakes will ship their product to the store and collect a weekly check from Stone less the agreed-upon cost.

"I’m trying to give them a reasonable shelving fee so the vendor can keep prices down for the customer," said Stone.

Stone has been in the food business for years; her background includes catering manager for a large Orange County country club, but locals will recognize her for a different reason.

Those who attend farmers’ markets in the area will know her from Delaney’s Culinary Fresh pastas and sauces.

Her natural pastas and sauces have been selling since she moved to the area nine years ago, beginning with her herb butters.

Yes, she would like to make money, she says; however, her focus is on the food and the people and bringing them together.

Stone hopes events at Delaney’s – such as marketing classes for vendors, book clubs for customers and cooking classes – will make things more fun and interesting.

Though if the public’s interest is measurable before the store opens, perhaps it can be how many phone calls Stone takes. Calls pepper Stone’s day from interested shoppers or vendors who have visited her Web site and are checking to see when the store will open.

Hanging up from one such call, Stone says, "I just hope the construction finishes soon. I hate to keep moving the opening date."

The plan is to be open in April, seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Offering delivery within five miles is also part of Stone’s plan.

To view a list of vendors and find out more about the store, visit www.delaneysartisanfoodsmarket.com.

Delaney’s will be at 41955 5th St., Ste. 101, in Temecula.