By Lookout Staff

July 23, 2024 -- Santa Monica will celebrate National Farmers Market Week next month with special events at two of the city's popular markets, City officials announced Tuesday.

The local celebration kicks off August 4 at the Sunday Main Street Market from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and wraps up at the Saturday Pico Farmers Market on August 10 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

In addition to special activities, the markets feature music, prepared and prepackaged food, photo opportunities and farm stands with locally grown produce.

“The Santa Monica Farmers Markets are a great place to shop for items you may not have tried before,” said Kym Otterstedt, the coordinator for Santa Monica Farmers Market.

“Our mission is to create thriving, inclusive, connected and diverse communities by promoting the prosperity of California farmers and small food businesses and by preserving the agricultural arts and sustainable food systems," Otterstedt said.

"We do all this and have fun, feed people and make new friends along the way.”

Established in 1981, the Wednesday market Downtown -- which takes place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. -- is "widely recognized as one of the largest and most diverse Certified Farmers Markets in the nation," City officials said.

"Local residents, out of town visitors, celebrities and many of Los Angeles' best known chefs and restaurants, can be found shopping this location which features over 60 California farms," officials said.

The Saturday Downtown market, which also takes place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., was established in 1991 and focuses on certified organic growers who set up 40 farm stands adjacent to the Third Street Promenade.

Santa Monica now boasts four markets that together host more than 150 farm stands that sell a wide variety of products, including hard-to-find seasonal produce.

While the Downtown markets feature mostly agricultural products and organic produce, the Main Street and Pico markets feature a combination of agricultural products and prepared and pre-packaged foods, as well as live music and special activities.

"Across the country, farmers markets are defining their role in our communities,” said Willa Sheikh, executive director of the Farmers Market Coalition.

“Markets are designed in partnership with the people they serve and are a place where market operators, farmers, shoppers and neighbors can collaborate to meet the evolving needs of their community.

"As we look to the future, farmers markets will play a key part, as they always have, in leading efforts to adapt, respond, innovate and advocate for our local food systems. National Farmers Market Week is a chance to celebrate all the ways farmers markets show up for us!”

All four Santa Monica markets accept SNAP/EBT, including the P-EBT and SunBucks Cards, and a Market Match Program is offered at the two community markets (Main Street and Pico).

Under the Market Match Program, customers can receive a match of up to $20 in coupons for fresh fruits and vegetables. All four markets also accept the WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program checks.

For more information about the Santa Monica Farmers Markets, visit santamonica.gov/farmersmarket.