Santa Cruz Farmers’ Markets

Live Oak, Westside, Downtown Markets Open Year Round

By Nicole Zahm

SANTA CRUZ — We know you love the farmers’ markets — piles of colorful veggies, colorful people, live music and great meals. You love the feeling you get from buying direct from farms you know and care about. You wear our gear, bring your friends when they visit and leave with your bags full, celery and greens spilling out the top.

We love the markets too, big time. That’s why we are dedicated to running them week after week, year after year. Twenty-five years in, still going strong, we want to take a moment to remind you that YOUR BUSINESS at the markets is what makes them tick. Your weekly dedication makes this local food economy possible.

Some people consider farmers’ markets a summer thing. It’s not true. In fact, there is something quite special about the colder months at market. What’s special about winter you might ask? The secret is, It’s Sweet! A scientific fact: some brilliant vegetables (carrots, kale, collards, cabbage and celery root to name a few) produce more sugar in winter weather as a defense against the cold.

The increased sugar content keeps the water in the plant cells from freezing. A matter of life and death for the carrot means a sweeter, yummier root vegetable for us!

What to look for at the Santa Cruz Community Farmers’ Markets this winter …

Downtown: Sweet root veggies, Brussels sprouts, greens, winter fruit (white guava, citrus, dates, dried fruit) preserves (capturing the taste of summer) at Apricot King and Frog Hollow, Kitchen Witch bone broth to warm you up and keep you healthy and café seating bringing you Eritrean, Mexican and Indian food, wood-fire baked pizzas, tacos, delicious crepes and rotisserie chicken. Hours: 1:30–5:30 p.m. (fall/winter seasonal hours) on Wednesdays at Cedar St & Lincoln St, Downtown Santa Cruz.

Westside: A great variety of citrus fruit, the last of the hard squash, grass fed beef, chickens and eggs, Schoch yogurt and cheese, tulips, sustainable seafood and Friends in Cheeses with preserves, butter spreads and a slammin’ grilled-cheese breakfast sandwich. Hours 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Saturdays at Western Dr. & Mission St, Santa Cruz.

Live Oak: Fresh baked goods, La Onda almond spreads, winter flowers, the Truck Stop with awesome breakfast tacos and sides, knife sharpening, dried apricots, persimmons, cherries and capers from Van Dyke Ranch, sprouts, mushrooms and so much more. Hours 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Sunday at 15th & E. Cliff Dr., Santa Cruz.