The Downtown Market

The Downtown Santa Cruz Market runs year-round on Wednesdays, 1-5pm. 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 foods in the county including naan and curry, Japanese fermented misos, Eritrean dishes, crepes, El Salvadorean pupusas, traditional Italian cookies, fish and chips and long-ferment fresh breads. 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 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 through the end of 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.

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 four designated spots along the Toadal Fitness wall 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. For more information click this LINK and scroll toward the bottom.