Something for everyone at Marin County farmers markets
By Paulette Swallow, Sustainable Ag Coordinator
I visited three different farmers markets that I thought would appeal to just about any type of shopper. The first farmers market I went to was the Marin Civic Center Farmers Market in San Rafael which takes place on Sundays from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm, year round. This is a great farmers market to bring the whole family to! There are numerous food vendors, and just about any type of fresh produce, meat, bread, fish or cheese that one could want. In addition to food, there are also children’s activities including games, face painting, jump houses, and a play area. The Farmers Market is located in the parking lot just below the Civic Center and sits next to a large lawn and beautiful lake. This is a great stop to bring your family and is sure to be a one-stop shop for fresh, local ingredients.
The second farmers market I visited was the Corte Madera Farmers Market which is held on Wednesdays. This farmers market takes place literally in the middle of the Town Center shopping mall. Similar to other farmers markets, this farmers market offers a variety of seasonal produce and artisan baked goods. One of my favorite parts of this farmers market was smelling Mediterranean food and seeing colorful bunches of fresh cut flowers. The great part about this location is that it is in the middle of a shopping mall so it is easy to walk in and out of retail stores and stop to buy a bag of cherries! I saw numerous people walking around with retail bags and stopping to purchase fresh produce or having a snack as they shopped.
The last Market I attended was the Point Reyes Farmers Market which takes place on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Toby’s Feed Barn on the main street (11250 Hwy 1) in downtown Point Reyes Station. This is definitely a smaller and more intimate farmers market than most others, and it is unique because it is the only all local, all certified organic farmers market in the Bay Area. The day that I visited, like most weekends, a large part of the crowd was made up of bicyclists and other tourists interested in grabbing a snack and enjoying themselves while listening to live music in the picnic area. The great part about Point Reyes Farmers Market is that one can wander through the Farmers Market and down the main street, which is the heart of downtown Point Reyes Station, stopping in at their local retail shops along the way. At the Point Reyes Farmers Market, one can really get a sense of the quaint community and enjoy some of the freshest food in the County.
The Marin Civic Center Farmers Market, the Corte Madera Farmers Market, and the Point Reyes Farmers Market are just three of the many excellent farmers markets in our region. Walking through these farmers markets, being offered samples of fresh fruit to taste, picking through a rainbow of honey sticks for my favorite flavors, and stopping by to say “hello” to the farmers in my own family is a true pleasure.
To find a complete listing of farmers markets in Marin County to plan your next outing click here.