The Felton Market

The Felton Farmers’ Market is a treasured weekly gathering May through October, now running for over 30 years. 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, Vasquez, 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, Tibetan dumplings, Italian pizza, and some of the best fish and chips you’ve tried. 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 favorite 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.

Market Match/EBT

The Felton Farmers’ Market offers the EBT/CalFresh and Market Match Program. Customers receive a dollar-for-dollar match up to $10 on their CalFresh (food stamp) cards for FREE. 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 MM tokens are for fresh fruits and vegetables only; the goal of this project is to support CalFresh (EBT/SNAP) recipients to increase their budget for whole foods while stimulated the regional agricultural economy. SCCFM will be offering the MM program for the 2023 season. Locate the information booth and the market manager to redeem EBT coins and to participate in the Market Match Program.

2023 FoodShed Project Series

Activity stations, treats, a celebratory air and the Felton community at large make these events unique. The Foodshed Fact Hunt, music, photobooth and art table run 1:30-5:30p. Face painting is 1:30-5p.

May 2
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 Vasquez farms and whipped cream – come out for a piece and welcome your favorite vendors back to this beautiful market in the woods. It’s time to get your weekly market shopping pattern started again!

June 27th
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 grilled stone fruit, pass by the PENNY ICE CREAMERY – FREE mini-scoops to the first 300 who visit. There’s nothing like summertime.

September 12th
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 this free event where a flurry of activities ignite your palet, your curiosity and your silliness. Santa Cruz Cider joins us for apple cider pressing. Whether you are four or 94, you can have a turn at the crank.

October 17
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!