Sonoma County Farmers Markets Offer More than Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

In Sonoma County, there is bound to be a farmers market a short drive away, regardless of where you live. Farmers Markets are known for their bounty of fresh locally grown fruits and vegetables. Depending on the market, you are sure to find much more, including: local honey, flowers, fresh-caught fish, artisan cheeses and breads, and cooked and packaged foods made by local companies. Some market-goers come to the farmers market specifically to shop, while others may spend hours chatting with vendors, learning about how our local food is grown. It is all up to you!

For those of us fortunate enough to live in Petaluma, there is the Petaluma Farmers Market on Saturdays from 2 to 5 pm, located at Walnut Park, Petaluma Blvd. South and D Streets, mid-May through mid-November. A second farmers market is held on Wednesdays from 4:30 pm to 8 pm, June through August at 2nd Street, between B & D Streets. A third Famers Market, The Petaluma East-Side Farmers’ Market, is held year round every Tuesday rain or shine, 10 am to 1:30 pm at 320 N. McDowell Blvd. The lively markets feature fresh produce, flowers, artisan cheeses and breads, fresh meat and fish, as well as local crafts.

Another local favorite is the Healdsburg Farmers Market, held Saturdays: 8:30 am to noon, May through November, at North and Vine Streets, one block west of the Plaza.

There is also a second market on Tuesdays from 9 am to 1 pm, June through September, at Healdsburg Plaza. Founded in 1978, the Healdsburg Farmers Market is one of the original twenty-two Certified Farmers’ Markets in California. It features a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, as well as flowers, cheeses, honey, olive oil, bread, wild fish, pasture-finished meat, and fresh eggs.

The oldest and largest farmers market in Sonoma County is the Santa Rosa Original Certified Farmers Market. It is held Wednesdays from 8:30 am to 1 pm, year-round and Saturdays 8:30 am to 1 pm, also year-round, at the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts. This market features fresh locally grown fruits and vegetables, pasture raised meats, locally caught fish, fresh local goat and cow cheese, flowers and specialty foods. There are also wine tastings featuring local estate wineries and live music.

If you are looking for a festive evening, the Valley of the Moon Farmers Market is held on Tuesdays 5:30 pm to 7 pm (or dusk), May through October on the Sonoma Plaza in Sonoma. The Valley of the Moon Certified Farmers Market provides a venue for certified and local farmers to market diverse, high quality agricultural products to the local community as well as an educational forum for consumers to learn the uses and benefits of quality, locally grown and healthful food. There is always live music at these festive gatherings. 

For more information about these and other Sonoma County farmers markets, please see this website: Farms and Farmers Markets.

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