Sacramento, the ‘farm-to-fork capital of America’, is surrounded by acres and acres of agricultural land that benefit from the region’s fertile soil and plentiful sun. It forms the northern half of California’s verdant Central Valley, which is a source of fresh, organic, and conventionally grown produce that’s exported to the whole country – and even the world.

Visit any farmers’ market in Sacramento and you’ll be able to chat with the farmers themselves, learn how they're various products are grown, and score great prices. Vendors bring forth the best and freshest harvests of the land. Here we’ll show you where to head to for finding and sampling the best of California’s finest growers in Sacramento. Be ready for colourful and irresistible finds – and bring small change.

  • 1

    Sacramento Central Farmers’ Market

    A Sunday festival of fresh produce – under a freeway

    Sacramento Central Farmers’ Market
    • Budget
    • Food
    • Shoppers

    Sacramento Central Farmers’ Market is one of California’s largest certified farmers’ markets that’s easy to find – right under the Interstate 80 Freeway. Open on Sundays throughout the year, this ‘fresh festival’ is also a thriving community gathering spot where you can browse through booths of all sorts of fruits and vegetables as well as people watch.

    It’s where chefs of Sacramento’s thriving restaurants go for the weekend to source or get inspired with the fresh bounties of the region – from herbs, vegetables, nuts, olive oil, and poultry and beef, among myriad others. Booths with crates and stacks of colourful produce are laid out under the shelter of the freeway’s concrete, along with flowers and plants as well as pastries and coffee to get your Sunday morning going. You won’t find arts and crafts stalls here, though.

    Location: W St and 8th St (Under Freeway), Sacramento, CA 95818, USA

    Open: Sunday from 8 am to noon

    Map
  • 2

    Midtown Farmers Market

    For a pleasant Saturday morning shopping

    Midtown Farmers Market
    • Budget
    • Families
    • Food
    • Shoppers

    Midtown Farmers Market is a family-friendly market on Sacramento’s 20th Street with local vendors that showcase fresh regionally grown produce as well as food and arts and crafts. The market takes place on Saturdays, serving as a cool community gathering place with entertainment ranging from cooking demos to live music and children’s play areas.

    The market is divided into 2 sections, one with the food and artisan market beside L Street and the farmers’ and market demo section next to J Street. You get between both by crossing K Street. This is the heart of Sacramento’s shopping district. The Midtown Art Retail Restaurant Scene (MARRS) building is conveniently nearby, filled with shops and restaurants that you can further explore on your Sacramento Saturday family day out.

    Location: 1050 20th St, Sacramento, CA 95811, USA

    Open: Saturday from 8 am to 1 pm

    Phone: +1 916-442-1500

    Map
  • 3

    Sundays Asian Farmers Market

    For fresh locally grown produce with an Asian flavour

    Sundays Asian Farmers Market
    • Budget
    • Shoppers

    At the Sundays Asian Farmers Market in Sacramento, you'll find all manners of fresh regionally grown fruits and vegetables, as well as herbs and spices that make up exotic Asian cuisine. The market is just a around the corner from the well-known Sacramento Central Farmers’ Market, making it a well-worth visit on a Sunday shopping trip in downtown.

    It’s smaller but opens before the crack of dawn and offers lower prices compared to other farmers’ markets. Local shoppers themselves would often make their way purposefully for a sought-after ingredient. There’s often a frenzied spree for the best and freshest bok choy and other leafy greens, and stalls are often swept clean way before noon.

    Location: 431 Broadway, Sacramento, CA 95818, USA

    Open: Sunday from 5.30 am to noon

    Map
  • 4

    Oak Park Farmers Market

    Sacramento’s biweekly neighbourhood market

    Oak Park Farmers Market
    • Budget
    • Families
    • Food
    • Shoppers

    The biweekly Oak Park Farmers Market on 5th Avenue may seem significantly smaller than Sacramento’s well-known under-the-freeway farmers’ market, but it packs a great selection of speciality vendors. Look out for those selling artisanal goods like hummus, vinegar, and smoked salmon and halibut. You can also grab a freshly prepared tamale sandwich or empanada, plus a freshly squeezed mixed fruit juice to go along with it in between your shopping.

    Furthermore, adding to the overall friendly and lively vibes are food trucks and food demos alongside buskers, fundraisers and informational and promotional stalls. There are even often activities like storytelling and art workshops that the little ones can actively join.

    Location: 3500 5th Ave, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA

    Open: May–October: Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm, Wednesday from 3 pm to 7 pm

    Map

    photo by Wendy Piersall (CC BY 2.0) modified

  • 5

    Elk Grove Farmers' Market

    A seasonal market at a colourful civic centre

    Elk Grove Farmers' Market
    • Budget
    • Food
    • Shoppers

    Elk Grove Farmers' Market is at the community centre of the namesake city, located south of the state capital of Sacramento. It’s a seasonal market that showcases regional farm produce and more. Also known as the Small Farmers’ Market, it opens every Sunday from June to November.

    You also get to enjoy the cool features of the civic centre, with its pleasant ambience surrounded by outdoor artworks called Avenue of the Arts, together with rhythmic water fountains and large oak trees. Goods offered by vendors at the market range from freshly baked goods, homemade jams and jellies, certified organic fruits and veggies – including cold-pressed juices, cold-cut meats, cut flowers, vegan food, and many more.

    Location: 8230 Civic Center Drive, Elk Grove, CA 95757, USA

    Open: June–November: Sunday from 9 am to 1 pm

    Phone: +1 916-627-3747

    Map
  • 6

    Saturday Farmers’ Market

    Snack on fresh fruits to live music

    Saturday Farmers’ Market
    • Budget
    • Families
    • Food
    • Shoppers

    Head down to Saturday Farmers’ Market in the Arden Arcade community of Sacramento for fresh and healthy regionally produced goods and an overall fun local community vibe. It’s held every Saturday morning throughout the year, right behind the Country Club Plaza on Butano Drive – that’s why many refer to it as the Country Club Plaza Farmers’ Market.

    Growers from all over the Central Valley region come to showcase their fresh seasonal produce at the market, and it’s where Arden Arcade locals and Sacramento visitors stop by for fresh fruits and prime cut meats for the grill as well as vivid cut flowers. You can pick up California wine and munch on fat, juicy strawberries while enjoying live music performances.

    Location: 2405 Butano Dr, Sacramento, CA 95825, USA

    Open: Saturday from 8 am to noon

    Phone: +1 916-688-0100

    Map
  • 7

    Historic Folsom Farmers’ Market

    A shopping haven at Folsom Station Plaza

    Historic Folsom Farmers’ Market
    • Budget
    • Food
    • Shoppers

    Shopping at the farmers’ market in Folsom lets you take in some old vibes of the Wild West in an old town with a railroad museum and pioneer village nearby. The city is an hour’s drive northeast of Sacramento and its old town centres around Public Plaza, which has a historic ice rink and the Folsom amphitheatre.

    Here, Saturdays start early as you and local weekenders stroll through the market where over 80 growers set up their stalls, showcasing everything from succulent oranges to fresh grapefruit and tangelo juice. Great for families to visit, the farmers’ market isn’t just all about shopping for great regional produce. You can put down your shopping bag and sink into a massage chair while enjoying live bands perform.

    Location: 915 Sutter St, Folsom, CA 95630, USA

    Open: Saturday from 8 am to 1 pm

    Phone: +1 916-484-7000

    Map
  • 8

    Carmichael Park Farmers’ Market

    For fresh variety and family fun year-round

    Carmichael Park Farmers’ Market
    • Budget
    • Families
    • Shoppers

    Carmichael Park Farmers Market presents a great mix of regional fresh produce from over 80 farmers, together with 40 speciality food vendors and live music every Sunday morning. It’s a family-friendly marketplace that makes good use of the large recreational setting of the namesake community park, meaning those with kids in tow won’t run short of ideas on how to spend their Sunday.

    Besides the colourful fresh produce you can buy at very reasonable prices, you can also expect a good variety of culinary demos, farming presentations, kids’ activities, live music, taste-offs, and much more. There’s plenty of vendors selling ready-to-eat nibbles like strudels and you can also drop into the onsite food court whenever you’re feeling peckish.

    Location: Carmichael Park, 5750 Grant Ave, Carmichael, CA 95608, USA

    Open: Sunday from 9 am to 2 pm

    Map
  • 9

    Sunrise Farmers’ Market at Sunrise Mall

    A family and pet-friendly market in Citrus Heights

    Sunrise Farmers’ Market at Sunrise Mall
    • Budget
    • Families
    • Shoppers

    Sunrise Farmers’ Market is a source of fresh local goods held every Saturday at Sunrise Mall in Citrus Heights, 25 minutes north-east from downtown Sacramento. You can find the parking lot in front of Macy’s lined with tents that cover rows and rows of vendors. Goods on display range from California certified organic fruits and vegetables to cut flowers and homemade honey, olive oil, and jams.

    Besides fresh regional farm produce, souvenir hunters can browse the art and craft stalls as well as the speciality vendors selling organic soap and body care products. Hungry? Check out gourmet prepared treats such as tamales and hummus, which you can snack on between your shopping.

    Location: Sunrise Mall, 6041 Sunrise Blvd, Citrus Heights, CA 95610, USA

    Open: Saturday from 8 am to 1 pm

    Map
  • 10

    Natomas Farmers’ Market

    A small but convivial market at North Natomas Regional Park

    Natomas Farmers’ Market
    • Budget
    • Families
    • Shoppers

    Every Saturday, Natomas Farmers’ Market springs to life at the North Natomas Regional Park with farm-fresh California-grown produce and a great food variety from local food vendors. Apart from the vividly coloured fruits and vegetables that you can find throughout the stalls, there are speciality food stands that make this market a good go-to when hungry.

    Delights range from wraps with fillings like turkey pesto or grilled chicken, red onion and sun-dried tomatoes. Check out the pizza stand for a selection of wood-fired thin-crust breakfast pizzas, and wash them down good with refreshing fruity smoothies or iced lattes. If you come with kids in tow who love to garden, they’ll have a blast at the occasional special farmer demos.

    Location: 2501 New Market Dr, Sacramento, CA 95835, USA

    Open: Saturday from 8 am to noon

    Map
Ari Gunadi | Compulsive Traveler