Best Farmers' Markets Near Peninsula

The city of Mountain View's Farmers' Market is held every Sunday morning from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., year-round, rain or shine. Being one of the largest markets in the Peninsula area, Mountain View's market is held in the parking lot of the CalTrain station and features roughly 80 vendors each week, selling a wide variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers. Shoppers will find an appetizing selection of prepared foods ranging from Acme breads to handmade sausages. This market also frequently has harder-to-find items like fresh grass fed meats, garden plants and locally roasted coffees.

Burlingame residents are lucky enough to have access to the local farmers market twice a week. With the regular Sunday morning market running year-round from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., May through mid-September, there is also a Thursday afternoon market open from 3 to 7 p.m. The Burlingame Farmers Market showcases California grown produce, much of which is organic, in addition to flowers and other locally-produced food items. Shoppers may also find anything from local honey and freshly-baked pies to smoked salmon and rotisserie chickens.

Unlike several other area markets, the Palo Alto Farmers' Market is open seasonally, each year from mid-May through mid-December. The Saturday morning market is open from 8 a.m. to noon each week and features solely locally sourced flowers, produce and plants. In addition to plenty of booths of fresh produce, every week the farmers market features a local musical act. Check out the Palo Alto market's website for a list of participating vendors, lists of what is in season and even recipe ideas for using up those delicious veggies.

The Belmont Farmers Market is another Peninsula area market that makes its home in one of the CalTrain parking lots, providing space for parking and shopping as well as convenient access to public transportation. The Belmont market operates year-round on Sunday mornings from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Shoppers will find a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as some prepared foods, breads, popcorn and nuts. Regular vendors also sell eggs, mushrooms, pies and juices.

Menlo Park's Farmers Market is another year-round Sunday morning Peninsula market. Each week, from 9 a.m. to noon, residents peruse a tempting selection of fresh, California-produced products. Shoppers will find everything from the expected fruits and veggies to local honey, shellfish and dates. Other products frequently offered are olive oil, mushrooms, eggs and nuts.