The Best Farmers' Markets in Southern California, Day by Day
Southern California grows food year-round, which means somewhere nearby there's a great farmers' market open almost any day you want one.
The trick is knowing which market runs when, and what to actually put in your bag once you get there. Here are seven worth planning your week around, organized by the day they open.
Tuesday: Pasadena (Villa Parke)
The Pasadena Certified Farmers' Market runs at Villa Parke Community Center on Tuesday mornings, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This is the smaller, older of Pasadena's two markets, started in 1980, with around a dozen vendors. It moves at a calmer pace than the weekend crowds, so it's a good midweek stop if you want to shop without elbowing anyone. Go for the certified-grower produce and get there early for the best pick.
Tuesday: Santa Barbara (State Street)
Santa Barbara's signature market takes over the 500 and 600 blocks of State Street on Tuesday afternoons, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Farmers hand out samples of honey, nuts, and stone fruit while musicians play under the Spanish-style architecture of downtown. The market association runs about 110 grower members and has done this since 1982. Bring cash or use the info booth to load market tokens, then walk the stalls before you settle on dinner.
Wednesday: Santa Monica (Downtown)
If you want the market the chefs shop, this is it. The Downtown Santa Monica Farmers' Market sets up on Arizona Avenue at 2nd Street on Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the Wednesday session is one of the largest in the region with roughly 75 farmers. Restaurant cooks fill their early mornings here for a reason. Look for longtime names like Harry's Berries and Weiser Family Farms, and arrive before 9 a.m. if you want first crack at the good stuff.
Thursday: South Pasadena
The South Pasadena Farmers' Market is an evening market, running Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. near the Metro station, under a canopy of tall trees. It has won awards, and it earns the crowd it draws: live music, food vendors, and certified California produce from local farms. The evening hours make it the rare market you can hit after work. Come hungry, because the prepared-food stalls are half the point.
Saturday: Palm Springs
From October through May, the Palm Springs Certified Farmers' Market sets up outdoors at the Palm Springs Cultural Center, 2300 E. Baristo Road, on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. In the summer heat of June through September, it moves indoors to the Pavilion at 401 S. Pavilion Way. You'll find citrus and leafy greens in winter, stone fruit and melons by late spring. Go early, before the desert sun takes over, and chat with a grower about what just came into season.
Saturday: Santa Barbara (State and Carrillo)
Santa Barbara's Saturday morning market is the biggest one the association runs, drawing around 110 farmers to the corner of State and Carrillo, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. A bell rings to start sales at 8:30 sharp. The first 75 minutes of parking in the nearby city garages are free, which is usually all the time you need for a full shop. This is the one to build a Saturday morning around.
Sunday: Hollywood
The Hollywood Farmers' Market is the big one, with more than 160 vendors filling several blocks near the Walk of Fame every Sunday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. A bugle sounds at 8 a.m. to open it, and the regulars take it seriously, with chefs and locals moving fast toward the heirloom tomatoes and bread stalls. Bring a rolling cart if you have one, get there at the bugle, and plan to graze the prepared-food stands while you shop.
A Note on Planning
Markets shift their hours with the seasons, and a few close on major holidays. Before you drive across town, check the market's own page for that week. Bring cash, a tote, and a rough plan, then leave room for the thing you didn't come for.