“The Santa Monica Farmers Markets are committed to promoting healthful eating and sustainable agriculture in California by providing fresh agricultural products from small farms to urban customers, thereby building community and preserving California farmland.” Established in 1981, the Santa Monica Farmers Market has long been the weekly gathering place for farmers and consumers a like. The city oversees the operation and management of four Certified Farmers’ Markets (CFMs). An estimated 900,000 shoppers visit the markets every year. Collectively, they provide customers year-round with a selection of fresh, seasonal produce that is pre-eminent among farmers' market programs in the state.
The first of the four Santa Monica Farmers Markets began after then-governor Jerry Brown signed legislation known as the Direct Marketing Act. This legislature enabled California farmers to sell their own produce directly to consumers at locations designated by the Department of Agriculture. Then-Mayor Ruth Yanatta-Goldway established the Farmers Market three years later and the rest is history.
The inaugural Farmers Market opened Wednesday July 11, 1981 in Santa Monica's downtown retail district with goals of providing reasonably priced, high quality produce to the city's population, the added foot traffic to the downtown area was simply a bonus. The Wednesday market met with instant success in its first year. Today, the Wednesday Farmers Market is widely recognized as one of the largest and most diverse grower-only CFM's in the nation, with some nine thousands food shoppers seasonally and food served from some of Los Angeles most renowned chefs.
You can visit this market for yourself on Wednesdays from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Arizona Ave & 2nd Street. In the coming weeks, look out for featured restaurants Obica on Wednesday, March 22 and Locanda del Lago on Wednesday, March 29.
Just a year later, the Pico Farmers Market was established. Located in Virginia Avenue Park, this market draws its customer base from the local Santa Monica and west side communities. Free cooking classes, offered in partnership with the non-profit Center for Community and Family Services, are an ongoing feature of the Pico Farmers Market which has the use of a kitchen located adjacent to the market.
The Saturday Downtown Farmers Market, also known as the Organic Market, opened nearly a decade later at Arizona Ave & 3rd. This farmers market was established with a different mission in mind though. With the passage of the California Organic Foods Act of 1990, consumers were eager for more organic produce and another market for weekend shopping. The Organic Market boasts the largest percentage of Certified Organic growers of the City’s four markets.
The newest of the four farmers markets opened in 1995. The Sunday Farmers Market quickly distinguished itself and developed a character distinct from the other three. In addition to an array of high quality produce, the Sunday Market features food booths, retail businesses from the local business district, live music, arts and crafts, and activities for children, such as face-painting, and pony rides. You can stop on by 2200 Virginia Avenue anytime between 8:00 AM and 1:00 PM for this beloved market!