The Downtown Market Has Moved to Church and Cedar – Taking over the Streets

On June 4, 2025 the beloved Downtown Market moved – taking over the street along Cedar (from Walnut to Church), turning the corner onto Church toward the library and spilling into the small parking lot. We are nearing our one-year anniversary here and this location will be our home until a permanent market is built, likely breaking ground in 2027/28. SCCFM has been working thoughtfully and diligently and our team is excited for the doors this change will open and for the growing role of the farmers’ market and agriculture in our City’s center and the county at large.

The Downtown Santa Cruz Market runs year-round on Wednesdays, 12:30-5pm. Our largest and oldest market, it is situated in the heart of Downtown Santa Cruz, one block off of Pacific Avenue. Established in 1990, many of the farms that sell here were and remain pillars of the organic and ecological farming movement. This is the place to eat with the seasons! The variety of fruits, vegetables, flowers, pastured meats and other products is swoon worthy.

The Downtown Market also spotlights a large variety of up-and-coming, unique cultural food businesses. This weekly spot may serve up the most diverse selection of ethnic and cultural foods in the county including naan and curry, Argentinian empanadas, Eritrean dishes, El Salvadorean pupusas, traditional Italian cookies, veggie-heavy Oaxacan dishes and long-ferment fresh breads and pastries. Shopping at the Wednesday market is a wonderful way to support regional responsible farms and small local businesses. Fill your grocery bags! Then sit down for a delightful meal and rest your weary arms.

Market Match & EBT

In June of 2025 we received a grant from the Kaiser Permanente Foundation which we have dedicated to a $5 boost in Market Match at the Downtown Market. Currently the dollar-for-dollar maximum match at this market is $20; $20 of EBT is matched with $20 in Market Match (MM) for fresh fruits and vegetables. We will be rolling out this special through March of 2026.

Established in 2015, Market Match continues to run strong as our foundational food-access program. Largely funded through state and federal funding, MM provides a dollar-for-dollar match up to $15; $15 of EBT is matched with $15 in MM for fresh fruits and vegetables. EBT is also known as CalFresh (statewide) and the Supplemental Nutrition Incentive Program (federally); historically EBT has often been called foodstamps. If a customer swipes their EBT card for seven dollars, they get seven dollars in MM tokens for free. Swipe for $20 EBT and receive $20 MM at the Downtown Market only. In April the maximum match at this market will return to $15.

The goal of this project is to encourage EBT recipients to take advantage of fresh, California-grown fruits and vegetables from small and mid-sized farmers. 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. Learn more about the statewide program and its incredible reach and accomplishments here.

Locate the information booth and the market manager to redeem EBT coins and to participate in the Market Match program.

Music

We are fortunate to have many talented music spend time with us busking at this market in the heart of the City of Santa Cruz.

The Foodshed Project Series

The Foodshed Project (FSP) is an education and outreach program of SCCFM which highlights the significant work being rolled out by SCCFM farmers, food artisans and community partners in the nearest regions of our foodshed. Find details regarding the series here.

Non-Profits & Political Action Tables

Tabling is available on a first-come-first-serve basis in front of the parked market vehicles on the west side of Cedar Street near Walnut Avenue at the Downtown SC Market. These are largely reserved for non-for-profits and other organizations and individuals spreading the word about community services and issues. For-profit businesses are not permitted. No group is permitted to sell anything ever nor give away any item that competes with goods sold at the markets. Umbrellas are allowed, no tents, and tablers are responsible for their own equipment. For more information click this LINK and scroll toward the bottom. We are not able to guarantee tabling space. At market you may check in with the management to inquire about additional spaces.