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Alameda Farmers Market
- Hours:
Tue 9:30 am - 1 pm
Sat 9 am - 1 pm
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
42 reviews for Alameda Farmers Market
Review Highlights
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"The Indian food and kettle corn is fantastic." In 8 reviews -
"Fresh fruits and veggies and more all year long." In 6 reviews -
"Have to admit that our favorite stall is La Farine." In 3 reviews
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42 reviews in English
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Review from Adam C.
Alameda, CA
9/10/2010 6 Check-ins Here
I absolutely love this small yet well diversified market. Tuesdays are good for fresh bread and Saturdays there's a guy from an olive farm in Napa. Fresh strawberries, flowers, vegetables and other fruits every week.
There is a dedicated lot for handicapped parking, which is nice for my mother so she doesnt have to walk as far. -
Review from Sue Ellen E.
Santa Clara, CA
5/19/2012
Color me unimpressed. We arrived 45 minutes prior to the scheduled end time, but most vendors were already packing up and putting away their wares. WTF? There were still plenty of people browsing. Add to that my serious hunger after the 45-minute car ride to Alameda, and I was a bit irritated that all the food was going bye-bye already. We could have gone to a restaurant, but I wanted to be able to Yelp the Farmers Market dammit!
The Indian food booth caught my eye, but it seemed rather expensive. One of the great things about Indian food is that it's NOT expensive, so again I ask, WTF? I settled on something called a samosa wrap. It was five bucks -- I kid you not. Five bucks down the drain. So gross I could barely eat it. Sweeter than sweet. I read the ingredients and grape juice was in there -- grape juice?!! Are you kidding me? Since when are samosas sweet?
The guy who sold it to me didn't ask how I liked it, nor did he offer me any of the various chutneys laid out in front of him. Way to sell, dummy. I tossed the crap -- I mean wrap -- and cleansed my palate with a piece of sourdough bread from a loaf that my sweetheart bought from a neighboring vendor. Now that was some bread! Very soft and fresh, and only two bucks. THAT'S more like it!
We wouldn't intentionally return to this FM, but we'd tag along if we were in the area (doesn't happen often) and a friend wanted to go. I'd skip the lame grape samosa though.Listed in: Be Treated Like Crap, Yelp Finds, Shams and Scams, Indian Food, East Bay
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Review from Don D.
Alameda, CA
1/30/2012 5 Check-ins Here
Very small farmer's market but some high quality stuff. If you're going to check out just one thing definitely go to La Farine. La Farine is the closest to a French boulangerie/patisserie that I've ever been to in the Bay Area. Grab the Frangi Pane and the Apple Croissant. I'm drooling just thinking about it.
I'm always on the lookout for weird/new/strange experiences and I've experienced that a few times at this farmer's market. There was one time that a yogurt place was here and I sampled their chocolate orange, jalapeno and thai basil yogurts. It tasted exactly like the names! Weird... but strangely yummy...
I can't comment on the produce. I only come here for La Farine and anything weird/new/strange that I've never had before. -
Review from Merrie D.
Alameda, CA
5/24/2012
Great place to get fresh vegetables and fruits with plenty of stands for snacking and sampling some unusual food items. Good bargains to be had and some of the best Indian food available, which you would not normally expect to find at a Farmer's Market. I picked up some of the best strawberries for dessert, so juicy and sweet, just picked fresh taste.
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Review from Krystal C.
Oakland, CA
11/24/2011
Came here on a Saturday which you'd think this place is popping right? Eh! Wrong! There was only about a block and a half long worth of vendors, most selling similar things of fruits and vegetables. Some of the stands look like they grew 12 fruits in their backyard and set up a tent to sell it here, small and didn't look very good. There were only maybe 3 cooked food stands. They had a kettle corn stand but for some reason it's aroma isn't amazing like other Farmer's Market where you can smell it from miles away. They didn't even have a stand that sold local honey- what's up with that!
All in all, pretty disappointed, not likely to be back. But there is plenty of parking, probably not many ppl come here. -
Review from Victor G.
9/20/2010
Alameda farmers market is about a block long of vendors, including a few food stands. not really here for the fruit but checked them out anyways. regular fruits (peach, nectarine .80/lb fo 1.. organic 1.50
organic mountain blueberries (6 pint). & some flowers
locale: corner of webster & haight, sat 9-1 p.m. , during webster jam, it was on webster near lincoln.
foodnotes:
-i dislike carrying things around. so i didn't buy any fruits/veggies..
-kettle corn, 2 indian food stands present. also vesta flatbread.
-parking is plentiful at the meters.Listed in: alameda…, Farmers Market
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Review from Cindi S.
Alameda, CA
11/8/2011
I love the Alameda Farmers Market! I support shopping in Alameda. I'm a vegetarian, I love the wide selection of organic seasonal fruits and veges. There is something to be said for fresh, ripe vine fruits & veges -- Yummy!!!. You can buy fresh cut flowers for yourself or a friend at reasonable prices. The only thing I would change . . . I wish the Tuesday Farmers Market would be from 4-7, that's the only way it could get any better . . . check it out!
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Review from Camille K.
Alameda, CA
6/8/2011
Tuesday's version offers a wider selection of vendors but Saturday's is also noteworthy. An array of fruits and vegetables at affordable prices are most appealing. Find Indian, Italian and fresh seafood on Tuesdays, along with rotisserie chicken. I have found cupcakes on Saturdays. Kenny the Clown and live musicians provide on site entertainment.
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Review from KAI S.
Oakland, CA
11/24/2009
Definitely a fan!
... Though I must say that I wish this FM was a little larger, it stayed open later, and that the prices were a little lower too (but I know.. I know... they're never that low at these things!).
Anyways, great stuff here! Especially... the.....
***INDIAN FOOD!***
(I'm eating some right now!)
Seriously, Alameda doesn't even have any *affordable* Indian food (I don't know why it's so expensive here compared to other regions I've eaten the same if not better food).....
This solves that problem. The particular booth I'm talking about is the one w/ all the dips. There's also a "fast food" booth but I have yet to try them.
$5 gets you an 8 oz. bucket of some sheer awesome goodness!
*Note: Buy the pita bread elsewhere... It's overpriced here.
(You shouldn't pay more than $2 for it).
- Some of the best/freshest/sweetest strawberries can be found here, as well!
I could go on & on. Just go there.
You'll see!. :) -
Review from devileen c.
San Francisco, CA
11/28/2006
This is a great place for lunch!
I was lucky enough to have Tuesday off before Thanksgiving, so I decided to ride my bicycle down to the farmer's market for holiday staples.
What I didn't expect was the 'ready made' goods some vendors were selling. I was greated by a flirty fellow who kept plying me with bits of lox and tastes of delicious spreads. He was also armed with some great looking pasta sauces.
But, I was a girl with a mission. I needed a sweet pumpkin for a pie (which I never found, due to a pumpkin shortage this season). I did load up my bike basket with Japanese sweet potatoes, fresh flat leaf Italian parsley, sweet yellow onions, fresh garlic minus the mold you get in the grocery. Also about 5 pounds of Granny Smiths for my apple pies for 2 bucks! I spent a total of about four dollars for everything listed above.
Then I decided that I would bring home a little lunch. My choices where endless. They have a rotisery chicken truck, fresh baked breads, mutiple vendors with fresh pasta sauces, nuts, the list is extensive. I was lured into the guy selling Indian chutneys and flat breads. I could have just filled up eating samples around the market for free as he alone tried offering me a sample of pratically everything he sold.
I took home a mango chutney, a cilanto chutney (which he recommened the two together) and some spinach flat bread.
As a bonus, as I was lugging my now heavy bike basket back to my cruiser, 4 hot firemen pulled up in their truck and lined up at the rotisery place. I even caught one of them giving me a glance!
The best part is this place is year round on Tuesday morning. -
Review from Brian P.
Alameda, CA
7/11/2011
Love to buy my fruits ang veggies here, organic and vegetarian Woo Woo!
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Review from Patrick G.
Alameda, CA
5/10/2008
It gets four stars for the kettle corn and the Indian food....neither of which are produced by farmers. The only farmed stuff I saw were cherries and strawberries.
Very small but good food! -
Review from Gwen H.
Alameda, CA
5/8/2007 1 photo
Not anywhere as big as the Old Oakland Farmer's Market [Fridays] but a good selection of fresh, local produce at dirt-cheap prices and some locally made prepared food good for a quick lunch [tamales, kettle corn, rotisserie chicken, samosas].
Especially recommended: Rodriguez Farms for organic and non strawberries. I don't know what they do, but they are always at least twice as sweet as anyone else's strawberries.
2008 ETA recs: the Indian food vendor Thursday PM is SO. GOOD. The chicken curry has become our standard Thursday dinner, it's hot and the naan is fresh off the [whatever they call that naan-making contraption they've got set up].
Sukhi's Indian [Tu/Th] is no slouch, either, and they will give you samples til you're about to burst. We snack on spinich paratha all week. Also recommended: La Farine bakery's rustic baguette [Tu]. Scream sorbet [Th]. The Tu organic stone fruit vendor has the most amazing pluots. There's definitely more organic stuff than there used to be, and the prices are very reasonable.Listed in: I #!$#$ Love Alameda
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Review from Ed V.
3/6/2010 2 Check-ins Here
3.5 stars
Located at the corner of Webster and Haight.
Hours - Saturday 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
only a few stalls ( approx. less than ten)
I come here for veggies , fruits, Indian food and to support local farmers.
It's pretty nice , however, it only has a small selection.
BTW, there is a guy who plays music from time to time selling his CD's -
Review from Java G.
Alameda, CA
4/21/2009 2 photos
I made a quick stop at the Alameda Farmers Market this morning. I've lived in Alameda since February, but normally I work in the city Tuesdays, and I didn't realize there is a Thursday night market, so I'd never gone.
Although it is a small market, hoorah, it is about food and not crafts. I hate going to a farmer's market and finding more crafts, jewelry, and you name it =junk= than produce! And I have high standards for the food, too. For about a decade I frequented one of the greatest farmers markets in the US--downtown in my hometown, Des Moines, IA--no kidding, which features nearly 200 vendors from 47 Iowa counties. That market is also far more multicultural than one might expect, and has mostly food related stands. But I digress...
I knew this market would be small, and I tried to keep my expectations in line. It was great, though! I was very pleasantly surprised. I bought mixed lettuce, beets, asparagus, tomatoes, strawberries (sooooo good), green onions, beets, mushrooms, spinach, and a gorgeous bouquet (the flowers were only $6).
The prepared food smelled awesome--roasted chickens, and a couple of booths of Indian food, etc. I bought a fabulous naan wrap for lunch with eggplant and mixed veggie filling (because I couldn't decide which I wanted). I also bought Tofu Yu Quinoa Salad and Mi Fiesta Tostaditas Baked Corn Tortilla Chips (see reviews) .
I would've bought more, but I could barely carry what I had! I have been munching healthy food all day--that makes me happy.
I wish I had noted which vendors I bought the naan wrap and strawberries at, so I could praise them. Specifically, the strawberries at the stand on the west leg of the U on the east side of that path I thought were much better than any of the others. I try to spread my money around and buy from several vendors--I'm sure all the other stuff is going to be super, too. -
Review from Rene R.
San Francisco, CA
10/21/2008
Love the Beesting pastry and organic whole grain Black Bread at Esther's German Bakery booth! The Sukhi's booth offers tons of free tasty samples.
My messenger bag wasn't big enough for all the things I wanted. Next time I will be more prepared! A+ for the bike rack. -
Review from Beth B.
Oakland, CA
5/10/2008
Wow! I've been to at least a dozen Bay Area markets, and this & Temescal are my favorites. I was at the Thursday night market last week (selling sorbet), and I bought a beautiful orchid from some nice vendors next to us, and traded sorbet for DELICIOUS Indian food. Wow, that food was good.
The market is managed really well, and it's also surprisingly easy to get to - I just hopped on the 51 bus in Temescal and hopped off a block away from the market.
(Note: even though I'm a vendor here, we're also at 6 other markets, so there's nothing in it for me to review this market well!) -
Review from Jon S.
Alameda, CA
2/3/2009
I have been riding my bike a mile or so from our house to this market every Tuesday for several years: it is a weekly social event as much as the source for almost all of our produce needs. (Full front and rear bike panniers means we have enough to eat well for the week.)
Alameda Farmers Market prices are comparable to the supermarket's prices and are often lower than other farmers markets in the area. The service, atmosphere, and produce quality, though, are always superior. (As an occasional alternative, we like the Alameda Marketplace on Park Street.)
The year-round, rain-or-shine Tuesday market (9:30 - 1) may be smaller than some, but there is always plenty of tasty, healthy produce (including fruits and greens) each week to feed our two-person household well: fish, eggs, enchiladas, kales, radishes (Ybarra-Cruz), strawberries (Medina Berry Farms), onions, carrots, and chards (Ratto Farms), squashes, pistachios and asparagus (from Coutoure Farms, in season), scones and breads (Beckmann's Bakery), and oranges (J & J Ramos) are just some of the goodies I am drooling over right now--and I just got back from the market! Denise, the Alameda Farmer's Market's experienced manager, is superb.
Alameda's Thursday evening market (4-8 pm, Daylight Savings Time only, May-September) is also fun, but has fewer vendors and is slightly more oriented towards snackers and diners rather than to "serious" produce shoppers.
Both markets are worth the trip to (or across) Alameda, preferably by bike or on the bus. On-street parking is limited, and there is no off-street parking available. Smoking is not allowed in the market. -
Review from Jon B.
7/7/2010 5 Check-ins Here
Good deals. Good variety. Friendly people.
Every time I come to this farmer's market, its a bit different. Sometimes theres less cooked food vendors, sometimes more fruits and veggies, sometimes theres music. It's always a good time with great deals to be had though.
I usually go on Tuesdays, and this Tuesday was a more fresh produce than cooked food day, with a guy playing guitar and singing, as well as a clown performing for kids. I ended up buying a few pounds of fruit and some seafood.
The seafood stand seems to be there every time I go, and they always have a good variety of fresh stuff. This time around, I went with some fresh scallops, butterfish, and even shark! The butterfish I believe was $15.95/lb, the shark only $8.95/lb, but I'm not sure on the scallops. I had enough for part of a meal for three for about $23. Not bad. This stand accepts credit cards.
Its usually a good idea to walk through the market from end to end first before buying anything to make sure you get the best prices. I ended up getting most of my fruit for only $1 a pound, and three baskets of miscellaneous berries for $6.
The Alameda Farmer's Market is one of the better ones I've been to, and find myself always stopping by if I'm in Alameda on a Tuesday. -
Review from Learnee L.
Emeryville, CA
7/1/2010
not too happy with this farmer's market when I came here for a Tuesday shopping.
It had the basics but not too many options.
eh.... -
Review from Kevin W.
1/4/2010 12 Check-ins Here
Alameda's Farmers Market rocks!
I picked up some really awesome lemon zested olive oil this past fall, and have not seen the stand again - boo hoo -
The variety of fresh in season fruits and vegetables in abundance.
I like to go Saturday moring when it starts to get the best stuff, and get flowers while they are fresh too.
It is also a treat because it is a year round thing! -
Review from Valerie V.
Alameda, CA
1/30/2010
We've lived in Alameda for 5 years, but this was our first foray into the Farmers market. We went with the intention of visiting the Cholita Linda stand, but unfortunately did not know that they are on hiatus until next month.
Our first stop was the La Farine stand. LF in Rockridge did our wedding cake a few years ago, so we know that their goods are top notch. They certainly did not disappoint today. They make, hands down, the best almond croissants (frangipane) I have had in a LONG time, and have now ruined any future almond croissant experiences I will have. Hubby ordered the chocolate croissant which he said was okay, but it looked to me like the chocolate wasn't baked quite soft enough.
Rating - 4 stars (5 for the almond and 3 for the chocolate).
We then walked over to the first Indian food stand (with the chutneys and naans, not the fast food place). The guy at the stall was such a great salesman, we ended up walking away with a bag of naan and another small bag of samosas. At that point we were looking forward to cooking chicken tikka masala that evening to have with the naan and samosas.
Rating - Can't rate yet because we haven't yet eaten their fare.
With naan and samosas in hand, we were about to leave, when we walked by the Indian fast food stand. Her samosas were priced at $1 each (compared to 3 for $5 at the other stand, so we bought 3 of her samosas as well. We also sampled the lamb and based on the smidge of a sample we got, we ordered the naan sandwich as well. It looks like it was going to be Indian food for lunch and dinner.
We're home now and just finished the naan sandwich and the samosas. The lamb was cooked very well, but I have to say that the sample is must better than the actual product. The lamb in the sample was really broken down and the sauce permeated through each little bite. In the sandwich we took home, there were still large chunks of meat, which still did taste very good, but I would have preferred them to be cut down smaller.
Now we're at the samosas. I'm a fan of vegetarian samosas in general - nothing like delicious potatoes and peas wrapped in a tasty pastry crust. What stood out to me with these samosas, however, is the lightness of the potato and pea mix and the delicate flavor of the cumin infused throughout. I totally sound like I'm talking out of my ass in that last sentence, but hands down, this is the best vegetarian samosa I have had. Evah.
Rating - 4 for the lamb naan sandwich and 5++ for the samosa...so I guess our average is 5. :) -
Review from Winane L.
Alameda, CA
9/22/2007
It's a small farmer's market compared to others but awesome nontheless. Everything one might want from a farmer's market is here. There is fresh produce, flowers, fruits, fresh seafoods, cooked foods, entertainment.
I love that they are open tuesdays am's and thursdays pm's
Saw Bake Sale Betty had a stand there a couple of weeks ago. -
Review from Jennifer K.
San Jose, CA
6/9/2009
I love the Alameda Farmers Market!
I used to live in the center of the island, but recently moved to Webster a few months ago... and I've finally been able to experience the farmer's market. They have tons of fresh fruit, vegies, breads, nuts, and a selection of meats. I have been able to go and get food for myself, and gifts for others.... I especially love the indian food.
It's not huge, but that's what I like about it. You can cruise through and take a gander at everything, and not feel overwhelmed or rushed.
Two thumbs up! -
Review from Zoe T.
Oakland, CA
8/18/2009 2 Check-ins Here
I love farmers markets, and one I can ride my bike to, even better!
A lively market with wonderful vendors I can't choose favorites! All season goodness from fruits and veggies (lots of organic), breads and pastries, delicious Indian food, flowers, baby food, kettle corn... And so much more! Gotta support local, and wondeful, reasonably priced, close to home local is even better.
One star off cause I can't bring my pooch...but other than that I live going!
Bring a reusable shopping bag or two, a little cash and a smile and have a blast at the market!
One star off because sadly you pooch can't wall through with you (and I've been to farmers markets in california that allowed dogs...). But other than that, top notch! -
Review from Michael B.
Spokane, WA
1/5/2010
Pretty nice farmer's market. It seems to have grown a little bit since it moved to its new location in the last year. The produce selection is pretty good, the prepared food you see at the Grand Lake market - virtually absent. There are a couple of food vendors, but I don't shop at Farmer's Markets for prepared food. I shop for produce.
The produce seems to be on par cost wise with the Gand Lake Market, but the selection is slimmer and the quality is a bit below Grand Lake (although still 100% above a supermarket and on par with most farmer's markets.)
This is my 3rd choice in East Bay Farmer's Markets after Jack London and Grand Lake. -
Review from Steve F.
Alameda, CA
4/27/2007
A very nice local farmer's market, open at a conveneient time.
They have a broad selection of local and organic produce, so if you are trying to eat well and eat local this is the place -
Review from alameda a.
Alameda, CA
1/5/2010
The Tuesday market is bigger than the Saturday, but as I can't get too many of the Tuesday ones, I'm a big fan of Saturday.
Have to admit that our favorite stall is La Farine. Superb baguettes and the almond croissant is excellent, too. -
Review from karen z.
Alameda, CA
Updated - 4/22/2011
Moving this market to Saturday means that the best vendors are at other farmers markets. Luckily, I work in the city and have access to the Ferry Building farmers market.
If you want good produce in Alameda, go to Dan's Produce - it's open every day.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/20/2009
This is about the Saturday market only. I work for a living and can't go on Tuesdays.
Completely… Read more »
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Review from Andi T.
Updated - 7/25/2009
I like the new location and looove the weekend hours, but it seemed a little sparse. I didn't see the pasta lady, and the one vendor selling corn on the cob ran out early. Still, plenty of strawberries, parking, and lots of free samples. AND, you're supporting the community. All very good things.
Listed in: Alameda, Alameda /East Bay Kid List, Famous Farmers Markets
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/28/2008
This is a teeny jewel of a farmer's market.... they don't have much, but what they do have is well… Read more »
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Review from Stephanie D.
Alameda, CA
1/15/2009 1 Check-in Here
Small but they offer an excellent selection at this farmers market. Made a pit stop Tuesday & bought quail eggs and my fave....a few bags of FANTASTIC produce I LOVE it! Next on our list to get is the roasted chicken, 12 bucks a pop but it's worth a shot. Lucked out and found fabulous fresh beets to roast with some evoo and garlic cloves for dinner last night.....YUMMOO! Definitely a go to for any seasonal fresh produce. The prices are amazing and the vendors are nothing but generous and helpful. My 2yr old dances to the live entertainment (1 guy with a mic n guitar ). Great to have on Webster St. Nice turn for the better on the outer west end of Alameda.
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Review from Grace V.
Alameda, CA
8/14/2008
If you have $20 in your pocket, you can come out with a nice hefty paper bag overflowing with veggies. There are slight differences on what you expect to see on different days. Tuesday mornings (if you can get to it) you will see more varieties of veggies whereas on Thursday nights during the summer, you will expect to see such good fruit like organic strawberries, blueberries, pluots, peaches...i could go on. The Indian food and kettle corn is fantastic. People are out and about with their families. Hands down, its a good 'ole time walking around outside in Alameda...except that the dog has to stay home. People tend to leave them at the street tied to a tree while they shop.
Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Susan M.
7/28/2010
I love that I live a half block away from a wonderful, mid-sized farmer's market and I usually stop by on Saturdays. Small but it has it all: organic produce, an Asian specialty vegetable booth, nice Alameda people, food vendors, live music, fresh eggs, flowers, bakery. There are fewer booths in the winter, but this summer has been excellent with lots of selection. Bring your tote bags and load 'em up!
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Review from Nat R.
Oakland, CA
4/7/2009
The Farmer's Market in Alameda is small but charming. Some vendors sell their food a bit too high like the small side of Indian chicken curry for $5 or gourmet chocolate cookies for $4.50 but other vendors have reasonable prices for fresh fruits and veggies. Like $0.24 for a fresh organic yellow onion. Cannot beat that price. I like to support locally grown produce. The samples here are endless from whole sweet plump strawberries to sugar coated cashews. But what I really come here for is the fresh mixture of sweet and salty kettle corn. Delicious! Only $3 for the smallest bag. This Farmer's Market is nice to come to during lunch on a sunny Tuesday afternoon.
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Review from Elizabeth B.
Alameda, CA
8/14/2010
Even though the market is small, all of the vendors have amazing food and they are SUPER friendly!
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Review from Lauren S.
1/12/2010
Adorable market - the best way to get fresh fruits, veggies, & Specialty foods!!
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Review from Jen W.
CA
6/19/2007
I love that there is a farmers' market in Alameda twice a week on Tuesday mornings and Thursday afternoons. I just wish that it was mostly organic vendors and a few of the others instead of mostly conventional growers and only a few organic vendors.
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Review from Lizy A.
Brooklyn, NY
9/14/2008
I've only gone to the Thursday evening one, but there are three items that keep bringing me back.
-The corn at the corner stand. 1.50 for 3 ears and if you cook it that night it is the tastiest, crispiest corn you've ever eaten.
-The samosa guy. The samosas are a little pricy (2 for 1 or 5 for 3) but they are so flavorful. I recommend the samosas from the small stand in the middle, not the bigger Indian food truck at the entrance. They are more expensive but the flavor is better
-Free samples from the gelato people
It is small, but definitely worth a visit -
Review from Iris J.
San Francisco, CA
10/16/2009
A nice Saturday resource for some good basic produce and eggs, maybe some flowers. Wish it had more -- rotisserie chickens, maybe? Still, this market is a good thing for the west end of the island. Let's support it and keep it in business.
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Review from Alicia M.
Alameda, CA
1/11/2011
MY FAMILY's LIFELINE!!!! Fresh fruits and veggies and more all year long. We are sooo blessed! Standing ovation to the farmers and their helpers that brave the weather and customers. Thank you for what you do.
