Farmers' Markets in Placer County

"Certified Farmers' Market" is the term that describes the venue used to connect the consumer of agricultural products directly with the farmer who produced it.

Excerpted from "Information You Always Wanted to Know About Farmers' Markets," an article in the Fall, 2008, "Growers' Gazette"
The Certified Farmers' Markets provide the most convenient and direct way for the consumer to purchase produce that has only traveled from the farm to the Certified Farmers' Market, not the circuitous route from the field to the packing house, then the wholesale broker who sells it to a supermarket, and finally to the consumer. Produce sold at a Certified Farmers' Market is usually picked the morning of the market or, at the longest time, the night before. Often the produce has traveled less than 10 miles to reach the consumer. The person selling produce to you is usually the same person who planted the seeds, tended the plants and picked it. He or she can inform you of the produce's unique characteristics, show you the difference between varieties, offer hints for storage, or provide delicious recipes.

The vendors at a Certified Farmers' Market have been inspected by their local Agriculture Department. Each farmer has a list of the products they grow on display in their sales booth. This is the consumer's assurance that the products they are purchasing were grown by the person selling them. The Certified Farmers' Market is the only Farmers' Market to offer the consumer this type of guarantee that the products they are purchasing are fresh, local, and direct from the farmer.

Additionally, many of the products sold by Certified Farmers' Market vendors are organic and specialty foods which, in a high end grocery store, can cost considerably more. Most vendors are WIC certified and carry numerous products other than vegetables, fruits and other produce such as eggs, cheeses, honey, meats from grass-fed animals to mention just a few. Your trip to a Certified Farmers' Market will be an enjoyable experience, one that you'll want to return to on a weekly basis. Many of our local Markets are open year-round. The following list will help you find a Certified Farmers' Market near you:

FARMERS' MARKETS IN PLACER COUNTY

Saturdays

AUBURN

Old Town Courthouse Parking Lot
Year 'Round, 8 am - 12 noon
At Auburn Folsom Rd & Lincoln Way

HOMEWOOD MOUNTAIN SKI RESORT

No. Lake Tahoe
June thru August, 9 am to 1 pm
5145 Westlake Blvd on Hwy 89

Sundays

GRANITE BAY

Quarry Ponds Town Center
June thru November, 9 am -1 pm
5550 Douglas Blvd.

Mondays

LINCOLN VILLAGE

at Twelve Bridges
May thru December, 8:30 am - 12:30 pm
2295 Fieldstone Drive, Lincoln

Kaiser Permanente Medical Offices

All Year, 9:00 am - 1:30 pm
1900 Dresden Drive, Lincoln

Tuesdays

ROSEVILLE Whole Foods Mkt at Fountains Year 'Round, 8:30 am - 1 pm Galleria Blvd & E Roseville Pkwy	TRUCKEE Truckee River Regional Park June thru September, 8 am - 1 pm 10500 Brockway Road off Highway 267
KINGS BEACH Kings Beach SRA June thru September, 9 am - 1 pm Highway 28 at Bear Street	DOWNTOWN ROSEVILLE May thru July, 5 pm - 9 pm Along Vernon Street

Wednesdays

AUBURN DEWITT CENTER June thru November, 10 am - 1 pm Bell Road & First Street	FORESTHILL June thru August, 4 pm - 7 pm Main Street
Kaiser Permanente Medical Offices All Year, 9:00 am - 1:30 pm 1001 Riverside Ave, Roseville

Thursdays

TAHOE CITY Commons Beach May thru September, 8 am - 1 pm Commons Beach Rd & N Lake Blvd	TRUCKEE Donner Pass June thru August, 4 pm - 6 pm Donner Pass near the Train Station
LINCOLN - DOWNTOWN June thru August, 5 pm - 8 pm F & 5th Street	Kaiser Permanente Hospital All Year, 10 as - 3 pm 1600 Eureka Road, Roseville