Celebrate Farmers Market Week in Santa Monica!

Published on July 26, 2024

August 4-10 is National Farmers Market week (yes, there is one) and there’s no better time to celebrate our local Santa Monica markets. Now in its 25th year, this annual celebration highlights the vital role farmers markets play in our nation’s food system.

What’s not to love about farmers markets? All that beautiful Californian produce direct from the growers, fresh flowers, delicious food and baked goods,  take-home goodies…even live music. Santa Monica’s markets are a great place to shop for new foods and products you haven’t tried before.  Plus, shopping at them supports your community, boosting the prosperity of local farmers and small food businesses. By ‘buying local’, you’re also helping to preserve sustainable food systems.

Santa Monica is celebrating National Farmers Market Week with fun events, programs, contests, and activities at two of its popular markets.

WHAT:
National Farmers Market Week Events in Santa Monica

WHEN:
Sunday August 4, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

& Saturday August 10, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

WHERE:
Sunday Main Street Market

& Saturday Pico Farmers Market

 

On August 4 at the Sunday Main Street Market (2640 Main St, Santa Monica), you can enjoy special activities, music, and photo opportunities. Plus, stock up on all the fresh fare you’ve come to expect and love: conventional and organic produce, delicious prepared and pre-packaged food, and local artisan booths. The market accepts CalFresh and you can park on the surrounding streets or in the parking lot at 110 Hill Street or Lot 5S at 2701 Barnard Way.

Round out the official celebrations on August 10 at the Saturday Pico Farmers Market ( 2200 Virginia Ave, Santa Monica). This quaint market is nestled in Virginia Ave Park and features local fresh produce and flowers, yummy prepared food and live music. The market is also adjacent to the library, summer splash pad, kids playground and basketball courts—so you can really pack your day with fun. The market accepts CalFresh and offers a Market Match program, Market accepts CalFresh, and there’s free parking in the lots off of Pico and Virginia Ave.

Santa Monica’s Four Farmers Markets

Santa Monica now has four markets, and combined they host more than 150 different farm stands! The stands sell a wide variety of fresh foods, including that hard-to-find seasonal produce (morel mushrooms, anyone?).

The renowned Wednesday Downtown market (at Arizona Ave and 2nd St)  is known for being one of the largest and most diverse in the nation—making it a favorite for foodies and chefs.

The Saturday Downtown market in the same location focuses on certified organic produce and features over 40 growers. These downtown markets feature mostly agricultural products and organic produce.

By comparison, the Main St and Pico community markets are a little more social, with a range of prepared hot foods to get your snack fix, live music, and take-home packaged treats. These two markets offer a Market Match Program under which customers can receive a match of up to $20 in coupons for fresh fruits and vegetables.

All four Santa Monica markets accept SNAP/EBT, including the P-EBT and SunBucks Cards, and WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program checks.

About National Farmers Market Week

Over the past decade, the national Farmers Market Coalition (a nonprofit dedicated to working with farmers market operators) has grown the annual celebration into to a widely anticipated event. Farmers market leaders nationwide recognize the celebration as an opportunity to connect with their communities, build relationships with local, state, and federal officials, secure sponsorship and grant funding, encourage data collection and research, and more.

 

Image: @anita_bonita_anna via @lemeridiendelfina