The Felton Farmers’ Market opens for the season! Opening day is Tuesday, May 7 from 1:30 to 5:30pm and the fun continues weekly through October in the St John's Church parking lot at Russell Ave and Highway 9 south of the town center. Here's a great opportunity to support regional agriculture and local small businesses.
The Felton market launched in 1987 and is the 2nd oldest market in Santa Cruz County. Every Tuesday a quality collection of regional farms and food businesses throw up their tents to sell a colorful array of fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, eggs, artisanal bread, seafood and other staple foods. Connecting residents directly with local farms, the market is an essential part of the regional food system as well as a resource for nutritious organic foods and basic agricultural education.
Farms include Watsonville-based Mora Family Farm with chicken, duck and quail eggs, apples, preserves and peppers. Centennial family farm Casalegno brings their heritage garlic, the most tender fresh beans and beautiful summer squash, heirloom tomatoes and early variety pears. Other beloved farms include Rodoni, Live Earth, Happy Boy, Kashiwase, Stackhouse, JCG, Pacific Rare Plants and Schletewitz Farm. H&H Fresh Fish brings sustainable catch from the Bay. The food truck rotation offers a huge selection of culinary traditions to market – eat El Salvadorean pupusas and Scrumptious Fish and Chips, likely some of the best you’ll try. Standard favorites include RoliRoti Rotisserie chicken and potatoes, knife sharpening with True Edge, the Penny Ice Creamery and Beckmann’s and Companion bakeries.
2024 FoodShed Project Series
Activity stations, treats, a celebratory air and the Felton community at large make these events unique. The Santa Cruz Public Library runs a market hunt with prizes and can check out books on the spot. Live music is 2-5p. The photobooth, bicycle blender and art table run 1:30-5:30p. Face painting is 1:30-5p.
May 7 Season Opener Celebration/Free Strawberry Shortcake
The Felton Market returns and it’s time for a party! Shortcake from Beckmann’s Bakery, strawberries from Live Earth and JCG farms and whipped cream. Come out for a piece and say hello to your favorite vendors at this beautiful market in the woods. Mountain Feed & Farm Supply hosts a FREE quick jam workshop from 3-4p. It’s time to get your weekly market shopping pattern started again!
June 25th Summertime!
Take a break with us and welcome the longest days of the year. Hello sunshine! Bring the kiddos, a friend, a lover and get into a maze of activities across the market aisles. Taste stone fruit, join Mountain Feed for a FREE kraut making workshop and pass by the PENNY ICE CREAMERY – FREE mini-scoops to the first 300 who visit. There’s nothing like summertime.
September 10th Apple-a-Day Festival!
Apples grow all over Santa Cruz County and are delicious, hardy and loved for endless reasons. Let’s celebrate them at the market where a flurry of activities ignite your pallet, curiosity and silliness. Santa Cruz Cider joins us for apple cider pressing and tasting. Whether you are four or 94, you can have a turn at the crank. Chef Jessica Yarr will teach a FREE vegetable butchery workshop, 3-4p.
October 15 Pumpkin Decorating Bonanza!
Let’s welcome the fall and its fading light with free pumpkin decorating! At this annual tradition kids and adults alike will sit down to celebrate the harvest season, the coming holidays and the joy of playing with food. Rodoni pumpkins of all shapes and sizes will be dressed up with veggies, string, pipe cleaners, buttons and googly eyes. Vendors take advantage of the theme – when you are done with the market hunt seek out some pumpkin ice cream and cardamom carrot pumpkin bread!
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