Top Farmers Markets in Sarasota (and the Nearby Area)

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Last Updated August 26, 2022

There’s something special about feeling connected to a community. Being able to soak up the vibe of the local culture, meet other people, sample foods, hear some music, and do a bit of shopping for local products. Those reasons are exactly why we love visiting local farmers markets! Whether we are just on vacation, live in town, or even if we live in a nearby town. We enjoy popping into various markets on different days of the week to see what they have to offer and just to get out of the house and enjoy the weather. And honestly, these farmers markets are one of the more popular things to do across the Sarasota area!

Whether it’s a Saturday, Sunday or another day of the week. Here we’ve listed out some of our favorite farmers markets in Sarasota and in the surrounding area. We’ve found all these markets to be wonderful experiences for food, community, music and fun no matter where you live in the Sarasota area (or even if you are visiting)!

Read the Post or Watch Our Farmers Market Video!

Feel free to read through the blog post below for all the details about some all of these great Farmers Markets in the Sarasota and Venice area of southwest Florida. However, we also have a great video here that includes these markets as well!

So click below to watch the video and see these awesome Farmers Markets for yourself!

1. Sarasota Downtown Farmers Market

The Sarasota farmers market has been a staple of downtown Sarasota since 1979. Located right in the heart of downtown at 1 N. Lemon Avenue in Sarasota, Florida, this is a very popular farmer’s market. It operates every Saturday throughout the year from 7 a.m. until 1 p.m. While it was originally founded to help bring people into the downtown area, it is now a non-profit to help market local vendors’ and farmers’ goods while providing a variety of educational and artistic opportunities.

entrance sign to sarasota farmers market downtown sarasota on a saturday morning

The first time we visited the Sarasota Farmers Market we were actually quite surprised just how big it is! It’s not a small little market, that’s for sure! You need to allow some time and energy to explore this market.

This Farmers Market pretty much has it all. You’ll find local artisans and merchants offering products such as homemade soap to baskets, art to jewelry. There are a number of larger produce areas of this market as well as small independent produce vendors selling a variety of food products including locally grown mushrooms from Fun Guy mushrooms, ginger from Just Ginger, organic microgreens and meat products.

You may find yourself drooling over the sheer variety and quality of prepared foods here at the Sarasota Farmers Market too. From cheese vendors, fresh-brewed coffee, desserts, jams, salsas, guacamole, and even high-end cured meats.  There are also many vendors selling ready-to-eat foods like BBQ sandwiches and so much more! Honestly, you should bring an empty stomach so you can taste many of the items here.

people walking along sarasota farmers market downtown with vendors and tents

There are also local musicians playing some tunes in the heart of the market, which enhances the ambiance between the towering buildings of downtown Sarasota. The Sarasota Farmers Market is a popular market for visitors to the area, but it’s also frequented by many locals who live in Sarasota as well.

READ MORE: Visit the Selby Botanical Gardens in Downtown Sarasota

2. Bradenton Downtown Farmers Market

Every Saturday from October through May at 9 am until 2 pm, you can enjoy the variety of vendors at the Bradenton downtown farmers market. The Farmer’s market is located at 400 12th St.W. in downtown Bradenton, where the road runs into the Riverwalk. Parking is free and pets are welcome, so bring fido along to enjoy the market!

The market has a variety of produce and food vendors, such as organic produce from Honeyside farms, cut flower vendors such as Medallion flowers, and baked goods such as Boho bakery. If you bring your pet, make sure you stop by Barkity market to check out the healthy pet products! The market also features a variety of art vendors, including soaps from Hardy Exchange and handcrafted jewelry from Loralei beadangled.

What we like about this market is that it’s in the heart of Bradenton and near the Riverwalk area. So you can stroll along the parks and waterways admiring the views of the yachts and other boats, then head into the market for some shopping and even brunch. There are a variety of vendors selling ready-to-eat foods, or you can have a seat at one of the many restaurants along the street that open their doors and put out tables and chairs to sit and eat outside.

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3. Siesta Key Farmers Market

If you’re looking for a farmers market open on Sundays, check out the Siesta Key farmers market. Open every Sunday from 8 am until noon, you can find this farmers market at 5104 Ocean Boulevard in Siesta Key Village, Florida.

This Sarasota farmers market offers a variety of interesting and healthy products and services beyond just fruits and veggies. You can buy soy wax candles from Vinsoy candles, organic, Japanese green tea room Haiaki-Gordon Green tea, and fruits and vegetables from Grumpy’s farm market. You can find a wide array or products and services offered at this market, from photography to honey.

Siesta Key may have been voted the #1 beach in the USA, but there are so many other things to do in Siesta Key for both visitors and even locals. It’s nice to know that besides the beaches and all the fun touristy stuff that there’s a fun farmers market on the weekends where you can feel like you are more a part of the community.

4. Venice Downtown Farmers Market

If you are looking for a low-key small-town farmers market that operates year-round in this part of Florida, then you can’t beat the Venice farmers market. The Venice Farmers Market’s summer hours are Saturdays, 8 am until noon, from April through September, and its winter hours are Saturdays, 8 am until 1 pm, from October through March. The market is located at 401 W. Venice Avenue – right in downtown Venice.

The mission of the Venice farmer’s market is to promote local growers while promoting health, education, community and sustainability, and the variety of vendors available embrace these values. You can enjoy deep-fried peanuts from A Little Nuts, have your knives sharpened at American eagle knife sharpening, buy hemp oil from CBD hemp oils or purchase organic produce from Dusty’s produce. These are just some of the varied offerings that also include fresh hummus, bamboo clothing and German pretzels.

up close view of freshly made hummus with whole chickpeas on top and paprika

What we enjoy about the Venice Farmers Market is that it’s just a few minutes from our home where we live in Venice, and it’s also right between downtown and Venice Beach. So we can make a full Saturday of it. We can grab some coffee or breakfast downtown, then wander through some shops down toward the market. After the market, we can just continue down the street along the lovely tree-lined walkways and parks toward the beach.

This is a laid-back market with a real local vibe. It’s where many in the community come every weekend and there’s no doubt you’ll run into your neighbors and others you know from around town.

READ MORE: 20 of the Best Restaurants in Sarasota for Any Occasion

5. Englewood Farmers Market

Another great farmers market in this area to check out is the Englewood farmers market. Open October through May, on Thursdays from 9 am until 2 pm, the Englewood farmers market was started in 2011 to bring fresh, local produce to the Englewood area. Since its arrival, it has helped to revitalize the downtown Englewood area. You can find this farmer’s market located on the 300 Block of West Dearborn St. in Englewood, Florida.

You’ll find many local produce vendors here at the market.  Vendors include Aurora’s fresh produce, seller of locally grown fruits and vegetables, Big D’s jerky, where you can find different types of jerky, and Florida fresh live herbs, purveyor of fresh herbs.

6. Cool Today Park (Atlanta Braves Stadium) Farmers Market

Yes, there really is a farmers market out at a baseball stadium!  Cool Today Park is a new spring training facility for the Atlanta Braves, and it’s located out in the West Villages / Wellen Park area between Venice and North Port. The Atlanta Braves farmers market operates on Wednesdays from 8 am until noon, from October through March. It is located at 18800 S. West Villages Parkway in Venice, Florida.

This farmer’s market is a continuation of the farmer’s market non-profit started with the Englewood farmer’s market. Like any other Sarasota farmers market, you will find a variety of baked goods, fresh citrus and seasonal produce. You’ll also find vendors such as Al Andaluz Co. who prepares paella and offers cooking demonstrations, fermented foods such as sauerkraut at Fermentlicious and and yogurt from Kalypso yogurt as well spice blends and essential oil sprays.

This is a convenient market for those who live in the Wellen Park / West Villages developments, and the wide-open area makes for a nice and surprisingly lively market atmosphere!

essential oils are a great find at local farmers markets like this in sarasota

7. Punta Gorda Farmers Market

Whether you live in Punta Gorda or are stopping by this popular town, make sure you check out the Punta Gorda Farmers market. It has been voted as the ‘best small market in Florida’ which says a lot about the quality of the market and vendors. It is open every Saturday, with the winter schedule being October through April, 8 am until 1 pm, and the Summer schedule being May through September, 8 am until 12 noon. You can find this farmers market located at the corner of Taylor and Olympia streets – right in downtown Punta Gorda, Florida.

One reason this market is so well-regarded is the variety of vendors available. You can find anything from sweets to pet treats to meat, produce, veggies and even clothing and art vendors! Some of the many vendors include Grammie cakes, Fresh catch fish company, Irene’s produce and Beca’s handbags.

handmade soaps are our favorite thing to buy at local farmers markets in sarasota

Speaking from experience, we were surprised at how great this market was for being in such a small town. Actually, Punta Gorda is an adorable town not far from where we live in Venice. We actually find ourselves driving down there quite a bit – and the Farmers Market on Saturdays is one of the main reasons. It’s a nice drive and they have some great products.

We’ve bought some amazing handmade soaps here as well as some flavorful herbal teas from a vendor with the biggest selection I’ve ever seen! From sitting and enjoying the live music, to eating delicious cannolis on the street from a market vendor, we really love this market!

READ MORE: Best Beaches in Sarasota to Visit

8. Philippi Farmhouse Market

The Philippi Farmhouse market is another excellent farmers market in the Sarasota area. Located at the Phillippi Estate Park, 5500 South Tamiami Trail in the southern area of Sarasota, Florida, it is open every Wednesday from October through May from 9 am until 2 pm.

If you like visiting farmers markets mid-week, then this is the Sarasota farmers market for you. There are a variety of vendors selling a variety of products, including organic and hydroponically produced fruits and vegetables, flower hanging baskets and savory barbecue. One of the best parts is that there is always live music to keep you in a great mood!

9. Lakewood Ranch Farmers Market

Another Farmers Market that recently began is the Lakewood Ranch Farmers Market. Happening every Sunday from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm at Waterside Place in Lakewood Ranch, this is a very convenient market to visit if you are out in the LWR area, which is on the east side of Sarasota and the Interstate. Here you’ll find over 75+ venders selling produce, flowers, spices and condiments, freshly baked goods, as well as prepared foods. You’ll also find household goods and decor as well as some fun items for your pets too.

And if you are in the area during the winter / spring, you might want to check out one of the public polo matches at the Sarasota Polo Club in Lakewood Ranch that takes place on Sundays! It’s a lot of fun!!!

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Support Local Businesses at These Sarasota Farmers Markets!

We haven’t been disappointed when exploring the different farmers markets in the Sarasota area. Whether you’re looking for spices, honey, baked goods, handmade soap, jewelry, fresh meat, fresh produce or ready-to-eat foods, you’ll be able to find these products and many more at the farmer’s markets listed above. Also, what’s nice is that some of these vendors frequent multiple farmers markets, so if you miss one at one farmers market, you can always stop by another on a different day!

Even better, by shopping at these local farmers markets you are supporting the local community and local businesses. Which is a great way to feel a part of the community while also contributing to it. Just be sure not to forget that sunblock before you head out!

 

Elizabeth

Travel blogger, entrepreneur, consultant, and "parrot-head" who always knew she was destined to live the beach life. Loves being able to share this lifestyle with others and help them live their dream too.

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