Farmers’ Market Fridays

Into our fourth week on local farmer’s markets, today I bring you Santa Clara County. Once the home to growers from Sunnyvale to Gilroy, suburbia has encroached over the years, wiping out the small family farms that occupied, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Saratoga, and San Jose. The old 101 used to be littered with farmstands (I remember the cherry stands the most), but with the construction of the new 101, this area is now bypassed and many stands long gone. You now have to head to Gilroy to load up (LJB Farms is my favorite), or hit one of the markets listed below.

A farmer’s market is a treat for the senses—smelling the fresh peaches, strawberries, herbs and even the dirt they were grown in. You can see the vibrant colors, textures, and varieties available, not to mention the enthusiasm of the growers. And you should make it a point to talk to the growers themselves; find out how and why they farm, what to expect in the upcoming weeks, and maybe even have them share a favorite recipe. Best of all, you can taste what you are buying—a sliver of juicy pear, the crunch of a fresh green pea, the sugary goodness of honeycomb. An added bonus is the live music, set to the background of a chatting shoppers and the laughter of the children. It will do your heart good to get outside and load up on fresh food.

So, head on out to one of these local markets and put a smile on your face.

NOTE: Markets are year-round unless noted otherwise.

Blossom Hill Sunday 9am – 2 pm Princeton Plaza Mall, San Jose
California Avenue Sunday 9 am – 1 pm California Ave at El Camino, Palo Alto
Campbell Sunday 9am – 1pm Campbell Avenue between Central and 1st St.
Gilroy Saturday 9am – 1pm Monterey and Fourth St.
Kaiser SJ Friday 10am – 2pm Santa Teresa Kaiser Hospital
Kaiser Santa Clara Thursday 10am – 2pm Kaiser Permanente Hospital 900 Kiely
Los Altos Thursday 4 – 8pm (May – September) State Street Between First & Third
Los Gatos Sunday 8am – 12:30 pm Montebello and Broadway
Morgan Hill Saturday 9am – 1pm Third and Depot
Mountain View Sunday 9am – 1pm Hope & Evelyn (near Caltrain)
Palo Alto Saturday 9 am – 1pm (May – December) Hamilton and Gilman Sts.
San Jose Japantown Sunday 8:30am – Noon Jackson Street Between 6th and 7th
San Jose Willow Glen Saturday 7:30am – 1pm (April – November) Minnesota and Lincoln
Santa Clara Saturday 9am – 1pm Jackson Street at Homestead
Santana Row Sunday 10am – 3pm Santana Row Shopping District
Saratoga Saturday 9am – 1pm West Valley College
Sunnyvale Saturday 9am – 1pm Muphy Avenue at Washington
Vallco Friday 9am – 1pm Vallco Fashion Park
The Villages Wednesday 9:30 am – 11:30 am Clubhouse Parking Lot (The Villages, San Jose)

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