Time: 1:30-5:30p
Day: Tuesdays, Opens in May
Months: May-October
Location: 120 Russell Ave, Felton
Features: , , ,

The Felton Market Opens in May for the 2024 Season

The Felton Farmers’ Market is a treasured weekly gathering place, now closed for the season and reopening in May of 2024. We appreciate the dedicated customers who call this market a second home. Your support of regional agriculture and small, local businesses makes a difference. Follow us on Instagram or join our newsletter (scroll down on the right side) for up-to-date info and announcements.

The Felton Farmers’ Market was started in 1987 and is the second oldest market in Santa Cruz County. SCCFM took over operations in 2009 and our team has developed deep ties to the community. Every Tuesday a quality collection of regional farms and food businesses throw up their tents to sell a colorful array of fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, eggs, artisanal bread, seafood and other staple foods. Connecting residents directly with local farms, the Felton Market is an essential part of the regional food system as well as a resource for nutritious organic foods and basic agricultural education.

Farms include Watsonville-based Mora Family Farm with chicken, duck and quail eggs, apples, preserves and peppers. Centennial family farm Casalegno brings their heritage garlic, the most tender fresh beans and beautiful summer squash, heirloom tomatoes and early variety pears. Other beloved farms include Rodoni, Live Earth, Happy Boy, Kashiwase, Stackhouse, JCG, Pacific Rare Plants and Schletewitz Farm. H&H Fresh Fish brings sustainable catch from the Bay. The food truck rotation offers a huge selection of culinary traditions to market – eat El Salvadorean pupusas and Scrumptious Fish and Chips, likely some of the best you’ll try. Standard favorites include RoliRoti Rotisserie chicken and potatoes, knife sharpening with True Edge, the Penny Ice Creamery and Beckmann’s and Companion bakeries.

This seasonal market is a jewel for the communities living in the San Lorenzo Valley and is located near the heart of downtown Felton on Hwy 9. Known for its family-centered culture and celebratory ambiance it belongs on your weekly calendar.

Excessive Heat Policy

The safety and security of our customers, farmers, and staff is always top priority. Due to the ever increasing high heat events in our area, SCCFM will cancel the Felton Farmers Market when temperatures are expected to reach or exceed 95 degrees or when the National Weather Service issues either a Heat Advisory or Excessive Heat Warning. The high heat policy applies to the Felton Market only.

Market Match & EBT

In August of 2023 we received additional funding to raise the Market Match program to a dollar-for-dollar match up to $15; $15 of EBT is matched with $15 in Market Match for fresh fruits and vegetables. We will be rolling out this special as long as funds are sustained, on a month-to-month basis n 2024.

The standard Market Match Program offers farmers’ market customers a dollar-for-dollar match up to $10 on their CalFresh (food stamp) cards. If a customer swipes their CalFresh card for seven dollars, they get seven dollars in Market Match (MM) tokens for free. Swipe for $10 EBT and receive $10 MM. Swipe for $20 EBT and receive $10 MM – the match maxing out at $10. The goal of this project is to encourage CalFresh (EBT/SNAP) recipients to take advantage of fresh, locally-grown fruits and vegetables. By offering an incentive that makes fresh produce more affordable we help shoppers stretch their food dollars while buying nutritious food. Locate the information booth and the market manager to redeem EBT coins and to participate in the Market Match Program.

 

2024 FoodShed Project Series

Activity stations, treats, a celebratory air and the Felton community at large make these events unique. The Santa Cruz Public Library runs a market hunt with prizes and can check out books on the spot. Live music is 2-5p. The photobooth, bicycle blender and art table run 1:30-5:30p. Face painting is 1:30-5p.

May 7
Season Opener Celebration/Free Strawberry Shortcake

The Felton Market returns and it’s time for a party! Shortcake from Beckmann’s Bakery, strawberries from Live Earth and JCG farms and whipped cream. Come out for a piece and say hello to your favorite vendors at this beautiful market in the woods. Mountain Feed & Farm Supply hosts a FREE quick jam workshop from 3-4p. It’s time to get your weekly market shopping pattern started again!

June 25th
Summertime!

Take a break with us and welcome the longest days of the year. Hello sunshine! Bring the kiddos, a friend, a lover and get into a maze of activities across the market aisles. Taste stone fruit, join Mountain Feed for a FREE kraut making workshop and pass by the PENNY ICE CREAMERY – FREE mini-scoops to the first 300 who visit. There’s nothing like summertime.

September 10th
Apple-a-Day Festival!

Apples grow all over Santa Cruz County and are delicious, hardy and loved for endless reasons. Let’s celebrate them at the market where a flurry of activities ignite your pallet, curiosity and silliness. Santa Cruz Cider joins us for apple cider pressing and tasting. Whether you are four or 94, you can have a turn at the crank. Chef Jessica Yarr of the Grove Cafe teaches a FREE vegetable butchery workshop, 3-4p.

October 15
Pumpkin Decorating Bonanza!

Let’s welcome the fall and its fading light with free pumpkin decorating! At this annual tradition kids and adults alike will sit down to celebrate the harvest season, the coming holidays and the joy of playing with food. Rodoni pumpkins of all shapes and sizes will be dressed up with veggies, string, pipe cleaners, buttons and googly eyes. Vendors take advantage of the theme – when you are done with the market hunt seek out some pumpkin ice cream and cardamom carrot pumpkin bread!