New vendors and fresh products are all part of the farmers market experience, but there is something larger afoot these days for the Monterey Bay Certified Farmers Markets: getting ready for next year’s 50th anniversary celebration.
As the markets continue to grow, it’s a great opportunity to look back and see how far they’ve come and the kinds of challenges they’ve overcome in the past half century, says MBCFM executive director Catherine Barr.
“This year, it’s all about planning for next year’s 50th anniversary,” says Barr.
The award-winning MBCFM is the oldest and largest farmers market organization on California’s Central Coast. It is continuing to fulfill its mission of bringing top organic, local and sustainably farmed foods to the public with more than 90 vendors at its four locations: Aptos, Carmel, Del Monte and Monterey.
All four markets feature the best in local, organic and sustainably farmed products. Depending on which market you visit, you can find pastured grass-fed meats and poultry, sustainably harvested fish, handcrafted cheeses, locally produced olive oil, fresh pasta and gourmet sauces, juices, artisan breads and baked goods, honey, mushrooms, farm fresh eggs, flowers, potted plants, seedlings, herbs, and a delicious selection of certified California-grown fruits, vegetables and nuts.
The past five decades have been a time of tremendous change for MBCFM, which has prospered despite such history-making events as the 1989 earthquake, severe storms and flooding during some winters, and of course, the COVID pandemic. Although the pandemic at first kept people at home, the eventual loosening of restrictions ultimately sparked growth of the farmers’ markets, as people shopped for healthy, delicious produce while still enjoying an activity in a safer outdoor setting.
“We continue to have a lot more people coming to the markets,” says Barr. “It’s always great to be able to talk to someone who’s growing your food.”
Even as planning for next year’s milestone anniversary is ramping up, there are some new and exciting developments at this year’s farmers markets. As part of its commitment to sustainability, the Aptos market introduced a “cookbook exchange” a few years ago, where people can leave cookbooks for others to choose from.
The cookbook exchange has been such a big hit, Barr says, that now a new category has been introduced—a gardening book exchange. It works in exactly the same way, Barr says: “Bring one and take one, or just take one! It’s always interesting to see what books are donated.”
The book exchanges are only at the Aptos market for now, but may be expanded to the Del Monte market next year. A gardening tool swap is also in the works, Barr says.
Ideas in the hopper for the 50th anniversary celebration include bringing back the popular contests judging homemade salsas and pies. Other special events include the revival of Shop With a Chef and cooking demonstrations, as well as workshops in creative uses of succulents. MBCFM T-shirts featuring designs from the past will also be offered for sale, Barr says.
For now, though, MBCFM locations are now in full swing, with the year-round Aptos and Del Monte markets ongoing and the Carmel and Monterey markets recently opened for the 2025 season.
Vendors that are making their debut this year at the markets include Fiji Wild Coffee, Klein Family Farm, Qouign Chocolate, Wildstag Provisions, and Santa Cruz Permaculture. Fiji Wild serves up coffee beans grown in Fiji and roasted at Santa Cruz-based Cat & Cloud; Klein Family Farm provides asparagus grown in the Central Valley’s Delta region; Qouign (pronounced Queen) is helmed by acclaimed chef Santana Rodriguez, featuring handcrafted sweets such as Dubai chocolate; Wildstag offers wild game cuts such as boar, bison and venison; and Santa Cruz Permaculture sells specially dried whole persimmons called hoshigaki.
Two markets are held at Del Monte Shopping Center—the Monterey Farmers Market on Fridays, 8am-noon, and the Del Monte Farmers Market on Sundays from 8am-noon. The Monterey Market operates year-round while the Del Monte Market takes place May through September. Both can be found in the parking lot behind California Pizza Kitchen and Yama Sushi.
The Barnyard Farmers Market, a seasonal market held from May to September, operated on Tuesdays from 9am-1pm.
The year-round Aptos Farmers Market at Cabrillo College remains a special favorite for shoppers from around the Monterey Bay and beyond. Held on Saturdays from 8am-noon, it offers a great diversity of produce, flowers and artisan products.
Not only does MBCFM provide wonderful products at its markets, it helps its communities in other ways as well. The organization is now partnering with Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County to make sure pre- and postnatal moms and their families have access to healthy food through Nourish, an innovative food pantry program at Watsonville Community Hospital. Nourish is open to all patients and hospital personnel.
In addition to providing free fresh produce and staples, Nourish also provides a comprehensive support system, with nutrition education, access to social services, prenatal class registration, and information about support groups, all under one roof.
“We are thrilled to be able to give back to our community in this small way,” says Barr, who often delivers the produce to the hospital herself.
Monterey Bay Certified Farmers Markets • 831.728.5060 • montereybayfarmers.org
About the author
Kathryn McKenzie, who grew up in Santa Cruz and now lives on a Christmas tree farm in north Monterey County, writes about the environment, sustainable living and health for numerous publications and websites. She is the co-author of “Humbled: How California’s Monterey Bay Escaped Industrial Ruin.”
