Selling at Farmers Markets
Learn the Basics about Farmers Markets
Do you grow tomatoes you’d like to sell locally? Are you a bee keeper looking for a market for your honey? Selling direct to consumers allows small to mid-sized farmers set their own price, tell their story, and connect with neighbors supporting local agriculture. Farmers Markets are a great way to showcase your products and diversify your income.
To learn more about selling at local markets, check out the Farmer’s Guide: Cultivating Success at Farmers Markets by Randii MacNear and Shelly G. Keller below.
Get Certified to Sell your Produce at Local Markets
There are more than 50 farmers markets stretching from San Mateo to San Benito counties and west toward Santa Cruz.
In order to sell your products at one of the markets, you must be certified by the county and be accepted into the market by its manager. Often, markets do not allow new vendors if they are already offering that product. For more information on how to apply for a certificate, and a list of local markets, you can visit individual counties’ Agricultural Departments’ websites, listed below.
Download the Forms to Sell at Local Farmers Markets
Santa Clara County Farmers Markets
Farmers can sell at around 40 markets Tuesday through Sunday, from Stanford to Gilroy. You can call the Division of Agriculture at (408) 918-4600 for more information.
San Mateo County Farmers Markets
There are 19 markets in San Mateo, seven days a week, from Daly City to Menlo Park. Farmers at these markets apply for a certificate through the state’s Department of Food and Agriculture. For specific questions about individual markets in San Mateo, see the list of markets below. You can also call the San Mateo Department of Agriculture at (650) 363-4700.
Santa Cruz County Farmers Markets
There are 10 farmers markets in Santa Cruz County. The contact information for individual market managers is available in the list below.
San Benito County Farmers Market
San Benito’s market is run by the Hollister Downtown Association (HDA), every Wednesday from 3:00 to 7:00 PM, May-October. For more information, call the HDA at (831) 636-8406.