Shaping the Future of the Downtown Farmers’ Market
Join us in re-envisioning the future of our beloved Downtown Market!
To ensure the success of the market’s transition to its permanent home, we’re asking the community for input through this 9-question SURVEY. Your feedback is invaluable as we work together to create a thriving future for the Downtown Farmers’ Market.
All Year-Round Markets are OPEN!
Come out and support regional growers and local businesses no matter the weather. As long as it’s safe, let’s get together. Our year-round markets are open rain or shine: Downtown SC, Wednesdays 1-5p, Westside SC, Saturdays 9a-1p, Live Oak/Eastside, Sundays 9a-1p. The Felton and Scotts Valley markets are seasonal and will reopen in May of 2024.
Market Match
When CalFresh/ SNAP participants use EBT tokens at the markets they receive additional Market Match (MM) tokens for FREE, for fresh fruits and vegetables. At the Downtown SC, Westside and Live Oak markets the match is currently dollar for dollar up to $15; $15 EBT = $15 MM. The Scotts Valley and Felton markets are closed for the 2023 season and will reopen in May of 2024. Learn more…
For 30 years Santa Cruz Community Farmers’ Markets (SCCFM) has been committed to your health and to the health of the local economy.
Our family of five farmers’ markets showcases the best in regional organic produce, pasture-raised meats, eggs and dairy, sustainably-harvested seafoods and artisan-made goods.
Purchasing your food through the area’s farmers’ markets ensures that you are getting the freshest, healthiest and tastiest foods while supporting local jobs, increasing local spending and promoting the region’s strong farming tradition.
What’s good for you is good for your community.
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Markets
Downtown
Time: | 1-5p |
Day: | Wednesday |
Location: | Cedar St & Lincoln St, Downtown Santa Cruz |
Felton
Time: | 1:30-5:30p |
Day: | Tuesdays, Opens in May |
Location: | 120 Russell Ave, Felton |
Live Oak
Time: | 9a–1p |
Day: | Sunday |
Location: | 15th & Eastcliff Dr |
Scotts Valley
Time: | 9a–1p |
Day: | Saturdays, Opens in May |
Location: | 5060 Scotts Valley Drive, Boys & Girls Club Parking Lot |
Westside
Time: | 9a–1p |
Day: | Saturday |
Location: | Mission St. Ext. and Western Dr. |
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Platos De Bienestar: Healthy Plates Produce Rx
Platos De Bienestar: Healthy Plates Produce Rx In partnership with the Santa Cruz Community Health Centers we are piloting a program called Platos de Bienestar: Healthy Plates (Platos). This is a produce prescription program which uses whole, healthy f …
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Brokaw Nursery is one of California's largest suppliers of subtropical orchard trees. They are also an industry leader in innovating new varieties of fruits and rootstocks though the nursery still constitutes the bulk of the business.
Dennis Tamura got his start in agriculture while studying gardening with Alan Chadwick during the 1970s. He subsequently helped run the U.C. Santa Cruz Farm & Garden Apprenticeship Program for several years before founding Blue Heron Farms in 1985.
Blue Heron Farms is located in a sheltered valley in Correlitos, blessed with a cool climate and soil that is sandy, soft and easy to work with. The 18 acres they grow on include large swaths of farmland surrounded by live oaks and habitat that is home to deer, bobcats, and coyotes. A deep well provides Blue Heron with water, they irrigate their crops with a combination of overhead sprinklers and drip tape. The farm keeps weeds at bay by torching some crops, hoeing, hand weeding, weed cloth application and cultivating with a tractor.
Both Dennis and his long time partner Lori agree that their greatest asset is the people who they work with - a wonderful group of men from Jalisco and Michoacan, Mexico, and a dedicated farmers’ market staff and flower crew. Currently they have three generations of the same family working for the business - a grandfather, three sons and four grandchildren.
Lori and Denis are well known for the quality of their product, in particular for special variety lettuces and flowers along with greens, root veggies and leeks. Their produce seems to jump off the table, so full of vigor, and it's not rare that they sell out.
As Lori says, “Although the hard work never seems to stop, there’s not a day that goes by that we don’t feel lucky to be farming here on the Central Coast, where people really care about organics and we are able to sell directly to farmers’ market customers!”
Blue Heron has been selling at the Downtown Santa Cruz Farmers' Market since the 1990s and values this relationship immensely. Communication with the market management (that's us) allows them to shift up what they bring based on market needs and they lean heavily into direct sales to sustain their business.
*Note: parts of this interview were based on a write up from the Ecology Center in Berkely.
Live Earth Farm is a small family farm committed to growing the most delicious, beautiful, high quality organic fruit and vegetables the earth is able to offer.