Did you know that The Salinas Valley (less than an hour from Santa Cruz) is often called the “Salad Bowl of the World”? Roughly 70 percent of the nation’s lettuce crop is grown there, along with plenty of other produce. Well, it’s no wonder then that Santa Cruz County has some of the BEST Farmer’s Markets I’ve ever been to.

Locals, chefs, and tourists all love to shop for the best in regional organic produce, pasture-raised meats, eggs and dairy, sustainably-harvested seafoods and artisan-made goods. This is a year-round treat for people of all ages! So, start your weekend off right and get inspired to cook up something delicious. You never know what tasty items you’ll end up with!

For locations and times check out these links:

https://santacruzfarmersmarket.org/markets/

https://montereybayfarmers.org/aptos-farmers-market/aptos-location