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Categories: Health Markets, Fruits & Veggies, Local Flavor, Farmers Market [Edit]
Main & W Angela StreetSat. 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
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I love farmers markets and make a point to visit local ones wherever I go.
There is quite a variety here - fruits, veggies, organic, local, Indian food, specialty tortillas, soaps, seafood, baked goods, juices and kettle corn. Sometimes there is this line for the kettle corn! Those guys must make a small fortune - what is the COGS for corn kernels, soybeal oil and sugar? I mean, $9 for a large bag? Wow. I do have to admit that it is tasty though.
I was on a quest to find Half Moon Bay peas. There was only one guy selling a smallish paper bag full for $8. I'm so used to buying them in HMB for so much less. It was the principle, so I passed them up.
I did score some purple cauliflower. At $3.99 a pound, it was not "cheap", but I'll spend whatever it takes to make my kid eat veggies.
Also the samosas here are yummy! $6 for 5.
Having come from Tomatotown, the prices are a bit higher than what I am used to. Also I got a kick out of this guy selling specialty tortillas for $4 a bag. It wasn't a huge bag and they are from Sacramento! I just know that at my local farmers market, no one would buy them for that price.
People thought this was:
The Pleasanton Farmers Market is a great for a lazy Saturday Morning. This is one of the busier farmers market that I have been to and has a large variety of fresh local fruits, veggies, nuts, flowers, Indian food, seafood, kettle corn, knife sharpening and rotisserie chicken. For the most part, the weather is always great and prices are fair. It is on the high side for a farmers market but you cant beat the quality of their products. Great way to spend a Saturday morning meandering through the market and then lunch down town.
We like to bring our dog and take our time to stroll the down town area after. Parking can be tricky so expect to walk a block or two if its busy.
Highlight of our trip is the big ass bag of kettle corn!
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This Farmers Market is held every Saturday, way over priced and I believe its because where its located. I frequent Newark's, Fremont's, and Cupertino and was shocked to see the prices. They do have more vendors and its more spaced out compared to Newark. There isn't any parking your have to find it somewhere downtown on a street or a parking lot.
I'm really torn about this farmer's market. It's a nice sized market (albeit on the small end), but definitly good quality, friendly people, and lots of variety. Some people have complained abotu parking on here, but it really wasn't a problem for me. However, I do have to knock it two stars for the price. I've been to many farmer's markets, but as far as price, thsi is definitely on the high end. It's like shopping at whole foods prices, at times even more. I'm definitely willing to pay more for fresh produce, but I can't help but feel a bit ripped off when I'm paying $6 for a dozen eggs, peppers at $4 a pound, or $4 for a tiny square of tofu, and $2.50 for green onion that's not even organic? Give me a break!
I love being able to get fresh asian greens as well as some delicious Indian snacks and foods along with the best asian pears I have been able to find in the East Bay.
My wife always has to get a large bag of kettle corn for her and the kids - and this year they've added a rotisserie chicken cart that makes for an excellent lunch.
Parking is a little bit of a challenge, but generally you can find it within 2 blocks.
4* instead of 5* because it is a little on the small side and the prices are not cheap - but the quality, taste and freshness are excellent!
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This is a great little market to check out on a Saturday morning. It's not a huge market by any means, but it generally has most items you would look to buy from a farmer's market. Parking can be somewhat difficult if you go during the morning rush, but that's just something you'll have to deal with. If you are looking for a specific product, be sure to check all the vendors prices before buying. One time we almost got suckered into paying $6 for a head of cauliflower when the stand next to them had the same thing for $1.50!
Also great for kids as there is a "resident" clown that performs for the kids.
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I think it is a good place to come, mornings in sunny Pleasanton. They usually have some music playing, and samples, the atmosphere is nice. There's really not anything to compare with it around here, though their selection is slightly smaller.
they usually have like 1 changing station, like once there were people selling rubber ducks, another day they were selling native wind instruments, and another day they were the master gardeners.
I think the shining quality of this Farmers Market is apples. I feel that I could never go back to waxed- not as crunchy or tasty supermarket apples after having tried the ones here. Their peak season was back in spring or fall though.
Favorites starting from east side of street:
dogs in the park behind the street, kettle corn, chicken,
Salsa: Swank Farms? my fav is corn flavored.
Next door: sweet potatos/grapes/etc.
Next door: groceries. they seem pretty popular though expensive.
Jam lady: By her expression, I don't think she liked me too much, but I liked her jam
Davis bread and desserts: good.
Beckman's: good
(scream, goat soap, feel god bakery, other bakery, sukhi's)
Marin Gourmet: good if you're in the mood
Asian's vegs: they have asian varieties, cheaper and satisfactory.
The orchid guy: good orchids. knowledgeable guy. outlived other-brand orchids and still thriving.
cheese: they also have cheesecake brownies, and cheese curds, and other stuff I believe, they might not look attractive but they taste fine.
eggs, and mushrooms: good
Apple/corn guy with beard: my fav. is fuji.
Asian people selling pears: good
Pom Juice sellers: yeah, try the pomegranite samples.
Rodin: I like to try
Olivina olive oil: good. just don't drink olive oil.
Strawberries: We habit getting from the nice mexican man, second to last. I think they peaked earlier in the year. I like ones that are sweet, big, and crunchy. They also sell raspberries and blackberries
Dates: sugary, they change and a good indicator of what you're getting in the bag is the samples.
bread:
not listed: I didn't list some, i'm sure some are good too. the only one I didn't like was the group with blue uniforms (tasted bad), haven't seen them around
Maybe another day: how to pick fruit
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Why does this market get a 2? Here are my reasons:
1) Prices are higher than at most other farmers markets.
2) Selection is pretty limited.
3) It's too small to really wow.
Okay. I like farmers markets, but whenever I goto the Pleasanton one, I have a hard time figuring out if I want to bother buying anything. It seems like vendors just try to gouge you because they know you're in Pleasanton and don't have access to anything else.
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Wife and I were in the area and decided to stop off at the Pleasanton Farmer's Market.
The Pleasanton Farmer's Market is kind of a double edge sword here. On one hand the quality of fruits and veggies here are better than most of the farmer's market's I've been too. The negative, the prices here are pretty high. This is basically the Whole Foods of Farmer's Markets that I've been to.
They do have a pretty good selection to choose from including several more exotic fruits and veggies and booths. But then again, it seems like an over abundance of these types of booths where basic things see less like the norm.
As for rating, I probably would have given the Pleasanton Farmer's Market 3 stars, but parking here is a pain and one of the harder places I've found for parking, so I'm knocking it a star for that. Overall, you're not really going to save money here though they do have a good selection of more exotic items. I would just skip or just go to Whole Foods.
Very fresh fruit and veggies. There are several booths with wonderful dips and marinades. If you like tortillas there is a stand, with fresh, homemade flour and corn tortillas. There are also fresh bread stands, indian spices, cheese, flowers, kettle corn, olive oil varieties, rotisserie, seafood and meat.
I like this farmers market a lot. It opens at 9am on Saturdays. There is a clown in the center that makes balloons. Occasionally they have live music playing.
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I was really disappointed with the Pleasanton farmer's market. It is TINY. I mean, if you're looking to buy fresh flowers and a cup of coffee, you could go here but there's like 4 flower booths, a popcorn booth and maybe 4 other booths/carts. I was hoping for more variety. Guess I'll have to stick to the farmer's market at the Ferry building in the city.
This is a great way to start your Saturday. The crowds aren't as bad as some of the other local farmer's markets, and the parking is ok.
Pick up a bottle of olive oil from Olivina if they're around and a bag of cheese curds (really hard to find). The kettle corn is very good, as is the Indian food. The flowers are better quality than just about every local florist, and you won't find a better selection.
As others have mentioned, there's no love for your pup, so that would be my only knock.
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Decent produce. Love getting samples. The kettle korn here is some of the best that you can get at farmer's markets. I'm dying to try Roli Roti chicken...
There is also entertainment for the kiddies and music for all. Too bad pets aren't allowed...
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I can't help but get a bag of the kettle korn.
I can't wait for strawberry season.
Nuff said.
Well, that's what my neice Alyssa would say...she loves strawberries. And now she lives in Arizona...strawberries, not so good! Think I'll send her some. From Pleasanton.
Go early, it's packed after 10a.m. Oh, and the Valley Humane Society is usually out there on First Street showing pets who need a new home. Isn't that nice?
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My favorite stand here is the Goosen (sp?) Farm, which comes by during late spring until mid summer with their delicious nectarines, peaches and plums. Once you have one of their fruit, you cannot go back to store bought fruits! They are that good. We also love the egg stand with their fresh brown eggs.
It's good to come here and see what fruits are in season and eat the fruits that are actually in season! Wow...what a concept!
You do pay a little more for the freshness, but I think they are definitely worth it.
Bon Appetit
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Much like Pleasanton, the farmer's market here isn't very diverse. A lot of the stands carry the same exact produce as the next one down. This creates some competition, so it is possible to find another stand selling the same product for cheaper. It's a reliable market though, and the produce is fresh and tasty. The vendors are pretty nice and always eager to give out samples. The flowers are gorgeous too, and cheap!
I'm also quite fond of the Indian food stand. Deeeelicious.
The market is every Saturday from 9am until 1pm. Be sure to come early to get the best picks on produce.
My only problem with this place is that you can't take your dog. You used to be able to, but no more.
Kettle korn is in itself reason to go. Love their flowers. They are so fresh, they last forever, there are lots of different types and they are dirt cheap.
Small, pricey farmer's market but there are a couple of cool things to eat/pick up.
- the seafood booth has expensive but tasty seafood... try the scallops and prawns...just pop the prawns over the grill and yum. the ceviche is ok.
- the chanterelles in the mushroom booth are excellent... i bought some and just munched them up alone.. i was hoping to cook them with steaks but i finished them off before i could cook up the steak
- the english peas are yum. fresh. crunch. full of flavor. just a little stir frying.
- the chinese vegetables booth has nice looking chinese vegetables but they are way more expensive than you can get from elsewhere... guess that's you get if you live in the burbs
- the balsamic vinegar place has a very good fig balsamic.... good with bread...or in a salad
This is really the first area farmer's market we've been to since we're from that awful place down south (that's what people up here think about LA!) We had a couple of hours to kill this morning and I wanted to check it out and get a couple of yummy things for dinner and snacks at my bro-in-law's. i was very pleased with the selection. There were a lot of produce booths with a good variety of fruits and veggies. There was also a fish vendor and a grass-fed beef vendor and a cheese vendor selling his own gouda (several varieties) from his own dairy cows, and one egg farmer too. I did not find the prices that high, except for maybe the eggs, and the farmers were really great about talking about their growing methods. There were some certified organic, and a lot who use minimal chemicals. I think it's really good to talk with the farmers about this kind of stuff because it shows them that people actually care about their efforts to be responsible with their food and that it's not just all for naught. Plus you can learn a lot from them.
It was a rainy morning, went from misty to pouring and back again several times but we managed to hang out under some of the tents and chat with the farmers during the heavy parts. I was happy to see so many vendors and shoppers both out in this crappy weather. Down in LA, the farmers don't even bother showing up on rainy days, because Angelenos won't leave the house if rain is even a remote threat, so it's not worth driving in from the countryside to sell nothing. I would have to guess that there were 20-30 booths at least. That's a pretty good selection if you ask me. And of course it pays to do a lap of just "window shopping" before you buy anything so you can see who has what, who has the best-looking or best-tasting and how the prices are. One thing I did not see is very many booths with samples out, which I am used to seeing down south.
We ended up with some local Livermore olive oil, pomegranates, four kinds of pears, heirloom tomatoes, broccolini and teeny tiny zucchini, some pistachios and oh yeah, you should ALL get the sorbet - pretty steep at $3 for a little bitty scoop, but so delicious, fruity flavors as well as sweet potato pie and pistachio (it had a touch of salt and WOW it was great!)
OK, so no this is not like the market by the Ferry Bldg or anything (the only other one in the bay area I've been to and that was several years ago, but come on! Who do you think you are, Alice Waters or something? Hee hee.
pleasanton is a great place to live with many great places and people but this farmers market is just plain boring. i have been to many farmers market in my time and over the years they have become much more than just fruits and vegetables. sure they have all that but they have more to offer for everyone but not the good ones you hope to find at the market. you won't see bakesale betty, or curtis and his kettle corn in fact your gonna see many of the farmer's market hacks. the tents are to close together on the small street which leaves little room for walking and causes many people bumping into me constantly. luckily my favorite deli is in pleasanton and with great breakfasts and lunches and a nice patio it makes for some great people watching.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
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Welcome to Mayberry! You can half expect Barney and Goober to be walking down the street here. It really is a slice of Americana from back in the 50's, except for the modern Bugaboo strollers you have to dodge as you walk down E. Angela!
A very solid farmer's market. You can get all the staples here from green garlic and fresh morels in the spring to multi colored Swiss chard and awesome peppers in the fall. I wish there were a few booths that sold hot food, like you see in San Francisco and Oakland...I miss those salmon BLT's on Saturday mornings from the Hayes Street Grill stand at the Ferry Building!!
My favorite farmer is Dale from Lone Oak...they have awesome organic stone fruits in the summer and excellent citrus in the winter. His peaches are borderline erotic.
Also, there is a great strawberry seller...I don't know the name, but it's the guy in front of the lingerie shop--he wears a SF Giants cap. Their strawberries are incredible...pure orgasmic summer pleasure in every bite!
It's fun to grab a cinnamon bun from the guy on the First Street side and hang out on the grass and watch the dogs at the pet adoption place.
I live in Livermore, but prefer this farmer's market for shopping. (Livermore's market is for socializing).
I like the fact that it is not too big. You go shop the week's worth of fruits and vegetables. They have a stand with fresh eggs (even quail and duck eggs), seafood stand, indian, kettle corn, honey, cheese and other things. I like that there are no distractions from going in, getting what you need and leaving.
I also like it, because there are usually animals for adoption on the grass next to the market. We satisfy our weekly food shopping and our daughter gets to play with the dogs and cats.
Also not too far from the market is a dairy store (drive through), where we can get our dairy needs and ice cream on the hot day.
A Saturday must. Buy any fruit that you can't recognize, and it will undoubtedly taste fantastic. The Indian Food guys, Sukhi's, have great food. Check em out.
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I went last week to the market for the first time and it was great. They had a great selection and all the local farmers were SUPER NICE!
Just visited Pleasanton's farmers market after a long hiatus from working too many Saturday mornings. I was really impressed with the expansion of cheese stands, mobile rotisserie, soaps and indian food in addition to the usual flowers, fresh produce, and kettle corn. I love walking up and down the street with fresh baked croissant from one of the bakery stands and seeing friends from the community. Can't wait to get back and do some real shopping!
i love the Farmer's Market. It's on the same street I live on two blocks down. I take my son, and we basically have breakfast off free samples while price watching to get the best deal. The guy in the middle under the green tent has the best price on peppers and basil btw. the very end booth before the kettle corn has the best price on white corn when its in season. oh- and Bistro Blends tents has the worlds greatest heirloom balsamic vinegar ever... you will never ever buy balsamic from a major grocer (even a boutique grocery) ever again, even if it is three times more expensive! don't be cheap- live life and eat with flavor! i love the vegan tortillas, even if they stopped making the cinnamon apple tortillas. the chipotle is still super.
afterwards, my kid gets to play with the doggies and kitties in the park next to it (courtesy of the Tri-Valley Animal Shelter).
I like to get a free newspaper from one of the paper slingers (nope- don't need a subscription, but i'll take it anyway) s i can do a crossword when i get home. Oh- and it is DEFINITELY the best one in the East Bay. Tell me where there is one better!!!
tip- not the first strawberry slinger, but the second, will drop in an extra basket if you buy a carton or even a half a carton!!!!
yep- love the farmer's market!
I am subtracting a star because of all the boujie mommies that make me feel inferior by cruising there kids around in $1000 strollers. seriously.
I really enjoy this farmers market and I think it's done a good job of diversifying lately so I have to disagree with the person below. They have stalls that sell soaps, iris bulbs, fresh cut flowers, (where else can you get a dozen roses for $5), cheeses (including squeaky cheese or cheese curds), olive oils, marinades, Indian food, fresh baked bread and pastries, roasted chicken and potatoes, Kettle corn, seasonal fruits and veggies, fish, plants, flavored tortillas, amazing fresh salsa, and so much more! There's an apple seller there who sells the best apples ever; they aren't covered in wax, and they are fresh and sweet and bake really well! I've also picked up great strawberries when they are in season. And don't even get me started on the tomatoes, did you know that most tomatoes aren't picked ripe for the grocery store? They are picked green and then through chemicals the tomato changes red so it appears to be ripe but its really not ripe at all! You won't find any fake ripe tomatoes at this farmers market I tell you; they have some of the best beefsteak and heirloom tomatoes around. You can pick up garlic, oranges, green beans, onions, grapes, greens, spinach, and all sorts of great produce here. But you can only pick up things when they are in season locally. Prices vary so be sure to tour all the stalls before buying. Also a lot of the sellers offer free samples of the wares so you can taste it before you buy it. They also have a clown/mime that does balloon animals and entertains the kids. And they have had a couple of really great bands as well doing orchestral type music. The early you go the better, this place can be packed around 11:00 AM and it ends at 1:00 PM. Also its easier to find parking if you go earlier.
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