Downtown Berkeley Farmers' Market

We stumbled on the market while visiting Berkeley for a few days. Lovely range of produce, very tempting. Lots of fruit and veg but also bake foods so good for picnics if you're heading on up the fire trails or some such. Wished I could have tried the mushroom stall a bit more.

Got a delicious freshly pressed olive oil from here! That and the food vendors are so nice and the food is DELICIOUS!! Everything was moderately priced, will be coming back later on to see!

My favorite farmers market in the Bay Area by far! It is not the biggest but it is extremely will curated and has excellent vendors. Also I am biased and my company happens to have a chocolate booth here. I have done many other markets years past and this is the only market where they regularly audit our business invoices & receipts to make sure that we are fully organic and selling what we claim to be selling. The fact that they do this for all the vendors at the market gives me extra trust in the quality of farmers, vendors and food purveyors at the market, as I know they are all getting vetted for quality!

Here are the food I was impressed by. - Ethiopian Roasted Coffee They Roast coffee beans by hand on site, and coffee was very smooth because they make it in clay pot. - Cacoco Drinking Chocolates Drinking Chocolates was creamy and super aromatic. It was nice to enjoy these foods in the cozy park nearby:)

This place isn't what I remember it being, but we did leave with some tasty morsels! We got fresh strawberries, green veggies, and an assortment of plums, peaches, and nectarines!

Nice place to get fresh fruit and vegetables and other local products however it’s not that big and there’s not a huge variety of stands. There are also several food stands serving hot food, including a Tibetan food stand which had especially tasty dishes.

A nice idea, but only if you’re rich. Eye-popping prices! Honestly just go to Berkeley Bowl any day of the week.

A wide range of seasonal produce, most of which is organic. Most vendors are eager to chat about their products and farms. You'll also find prepared food (coffee, crepes, Ethiopian, baked goods, a chocolatier). Great fishmonger.

See my most recent review from 2019 and it's pretty much the same. All of my faves are gone. It used to be that I would come here with a bounce in my step - looking for my favorite food finds, running into an old friend or relative, talking with the vendors, and pursuing the goods. But now, it's a shell of what it used to be and the food is stuff I can find in other places. Old standards such as Phoenix Pastifico is there, the fish people are there, the raw chocolate people are there. The Thai food place is there, but one of the two owners doesn't like black people (my experience - see my review). Another issue is that the meh market has no parking. Is that their fault? No it isn't, but spending up to 45 minutes going up and down streets for parking isn't cool. You'd think that they'd try to find a solution, but they don't care because they just want people on bikes riding around. I would not go out of my way to this market for anything! There are plenty of other good markets around them in Oakland, Alameda, Ferry Building and so on. Just go to one of those and leave this one alone!

Poke, pickled goods, local meats and seafood, fresh vegetables and fruit produce, and food stands! What they were lacking were some benches, but I guess the grass on the park near this market, will do! Spot on and great for the stroll while in Berkeley!

Great Farmer's Market in the Bay Area. I went here recently after not visiting here for quite awhile. I have been frequenting the Ferry Building Farmer's Market in Downtown SF. Both are great yet really liked Downtown Berkeley having wild Chanterelle mushrooms. These are rare and they are expensive yet haven't seen them at the farmer's markets in SF. My friend used to forage them when I lived in the Pacific NW so nice to see them here. I picked up lots of seasonal fruit. Persimmons, apples, pears, plums, and pluots. I am a huge fan of persimmons and love that they are available during the Autumn season in CA when they are in season. Ripe mangoes are probably my favorite fruit with ripe persimmons being a close second. Pomegranate are also in season. If you are in the Bay Area or East Bay hop over to the Downtown Berkeley Farmer's Market to pick up some fresh produce. You can do no better than to visit here.

I think the Ecology Center puts on a really well organized and safe farmer's market! They have chalk marks on the ground directing where lines should wrap and how far apart to stand. People do a great job of wearing masks, the vendors included. Every vendor I've bought from has been nice and informative, but special shout out to Four Sisters Organic for the most beautiful organic wildflower bouquets. I got there early on Valentine's weekend to get one! It is a smaller market - it spans one street during the winter time and another half of a street during the warmer months. Personally I feel overwhelmed in gigantic, crowded markets so this is a better pace for those like me. I'm not deducting a star for something the market can't help but do want to let people know - the area is typical Berkeley. Do NOT leave anything visible in your car, and stash valuables away in your trunk before you leave your house. There's usually broken glass on the street where I can see cars were broken into. The grassy expanse next to the market has its fair share of what looks like transients, with their belongings and generally maskless. I just walk far away and enter the market from another area. Also plan your restroom trips ahead of time!

This is a small market. You can find veggies fruits and hot food. It was good to check out if you have 20 minutes to spare.

This is my favorite farmers market in the Bay Area. There are usually a good range of food stands, some excellent bread, and fun stuff like chocolates and pastries, but the real reason to go is for the veggies and fruit. There is more organic produce here than any other market (except maybe the other Berkeley Ecology markets on Tuesday and Thursday), the variety is excellent and the quality is always top notch. I am very spoiled by it. Yes, you can get the same kinds of produce cheaper in the grocery store, but the freshness and quality are not the same there - even at a place like Berkeley Bowl. And I love the social element, talking to the farmers and seeing neighbors. Visiting this market always makes me happy, regardless of how tough the rest of the world is.

This is not a very big farmers' market compared with a lot of farmers' markets I have been visited. But it is in the heart of Berkeley. Downtown Berkeley Farmers' Market is right in the middle of the downtown financial area. The city blocked out the street and turn it into a farmers' market on the weekend. They have the COVID notice posted right at the entrance of the market. Most of the customers are following the instructions with face masks on their faces. The market has a coffee stand and a couple of food stands for the customers who wanted food or drink when you're shopping at the market. It seems they're the busiest spots of the whole farmers' market. Trying to get street parking is not easy and the parking meters are still enforced on Saturday. Sunday is no charge for parking at Downtown Berkeley.

We were on our way to a Berkeley eatery for breakfast when we passed this Saturday Berkeley Farmers Market. So we had to stop on the way back. It is a small spread, but relaxing and eventful to be at this Farmers Market. As expected, the accent is on fresh, organic and local products, farms and foods. Many choices. We bought pupusas from La Oaxaquena (they were raw, dough needed to be cooked, threw almost all of it when I decided to eat it a few hours later). And bought several fresh baked goods from Frog Hollow Farm Kitchen (see separate review). I also tasted several unique and creamy craft hummus products from Abour foods. If I had more time, I would have bought more. Overall, a very pleasant experience of novel samples, discovery of new tastes and friendly vendors.

Make no mistake that Berkeley is a foodie's paradise. After all, not every city has a Gourmet Ghetto, so it would have to be de riguer for a city like Berkeley to have a constant supply of fresh organic produce to its discriminating residents. I actually wasn't aware that the Ecology Center sponsors a farmers' market three times a week in three different locations. I'm usually in Berkeley only on the weekends, so the Saturday market on Center Street between Milvia and MLK Way is the one I most frequent. Over fifty vendors sell not only produce but also prepared foods, baked goods, and flowers (photo: http://bit.ly/2pEIsfU). Unlike the Kensington Farmers' Market (review: http://bit.ly/2INZn8g), this one has width (photo: http://bit.ly/2DNOTlT), so the chances of getting elbowed by an aggressive vegetarian are greatly diminished. It's open from 10AM to 3PM, and it never feels overly crowded. The selections here are always robust as mounds of carrots (photo: http://bit.ly/2pxW39j) and crates of sweet peppers (photo: http://bit.ly/2udmYw3) are common sights. Sure, it's no Union Square Greenmarket (review: http://bit.ly/2HY0Uri) or even a Ferry Plaza Farmers' Market (review: http://bit.ly/2FZvynu), but it is more than adequate for the ratatouille you want to make tonight.

A fairly small market but with a good amount going on. I only came here to meet with the people at the Three Twins Ice Cream stall (they're releasing a new line of Ice Cream they asked me to help promote) and where I came here just for that I ended up browsing a few of the other stalls too - Lot's of fresh Fruit and Vegetables, Chocolate, Coffee, Pastries. The stalls are all well spaced and it wasn't too busy but it's not easy to find parking nearby also bring cash because many stalls do not take credit card.

I have gone here nearly every Saturday for 20 years. It is the best place to go for organic, in-season, local-ish produce. This market is welcoming to visitors and warm to regulars. As photogenic as it is nourishing, there are a few dozen farmers and food artisans every week, with tablets and baskets overflowing with ten types of apples, unfamiliar citrus, half a dozen dates, sweet baby greens, expensive blueberries, and plums and pears and pumpkins. Bring plenty of your own bags since they don't give them away for free, and you don't want those Brussels sprouts rolling around your purse. There are ready to eat options in case you would like to picnic in the park.

Farmers market in small open space. Good offerings and friendly vendors. Easy in and out.

If you live near Berkeley I would definitely suggest trekking your way here each Saturday, the quality and diversity of products here are superior! While it may be slightly smaller than most farmers markets in the area, each stand's distinct offerings provide the same amount as large markets. In the spring and summer, the strawberry and blueberry stands are some of the best I have ever eaten! Also love the granola stand that makes all types of (vegan) granola, I love to put it in my yogurt in the mornings. During some months you can also find various stands with plants, knife sharpening, hummus, and more!

Used to be a decent market. I was there last Saturday. Peaches $6/lb. Another vendor had them for $3/lb. I asked about apricots & was told it was too late in the season for them. I passed & went to the smaller El Cerrito Plaza Farmers Mkt. Peaches AND apricots $2.50/lb. Lots of political signs I found disgusting. Hard to find a parking space & it is metered. Free parking at the Plaza.

This was my first time at this farmer's market and I loved it! All the produce was of high quality and just beautiful. There were lots of varieties stone fruit and fruit in general much of it was organic. I especially loved the bakery and jam/jelly section. I bought the lemon-shortbread rounds and the apricot-shortbread squares - excellent! A separate booth was selling prepared foods and I bought the green salsa and it was outstanding!

Berkeley Farmers Market is convenient. It's a few blocks from Downtown Berkeley Bart which is very easy to get to. Since we were there almost closing time and too full to buy anything I'm just going to list what I saw. Flacos - vegetarian Mexican food Cafe Zambala - organic Himalayian food catering Andy & Cindy Thai Cuisine Curry Leaf Cuisine-vegetarian/vegan rosemary plants to buy, plant, & grow lemon thyme to buy, plant & grow orchids Hodo soy Blue Bottle Coffee Co. Madjool dates $7/lb Solano mushroom cauliflower: white & or purple $2/lb brussel sprouts $4/lb Highland Hills Farm-pork sausages Blossom Bluff Orchards Fatted Calf Charcuterie Three Twins Organic ice cream Phoenix Pastifico-meyer lemon bucatini, crab ravioli, vegan ravioli, almond macaroon $3; chocolate pecan chewie cookie $2. I gotta try the Olive Bread next time! Hudsonfish nuts Bariani olive oil -love it! fresh popcorn Crepe Maker Redwood Hill Farm & Creamery-goat cheese & goat milk yogurt some live musicians Saturdays, 10a-3p, sign says 10-2..guess they don't mind staying an extra hr.

My favorite farmer's market in the area. I love that it is all organic. Annabelle from Tercera farms always has something or many things that are more unusual and delightful - from borlotti beans to romanesco to chicories including puntarelle. The vendors at the end of the Milvia side have a wide variety of Asian produce from ginger to bitter melon, gai lan, drumstick (fruit of moringa), loofa, eggplant, okra, and several items in not familiar with (yet). Frog Hollow has amazing fruit, unfortunately at amazing prices but their nectarines and pluots are beyond compare. The eggs from River Dog can't be beat. The tiny scallions - red and green - are delightful and I usually get 2-3 bunches. Great fresh pastas including some whole grain. Sometimes the customers are a turn off - think the worst of Berkeley - entitled and fussy. But I'm there for the produce.

The first thing we try to do upon arrival in San Francisco is head to a farmer's market for fresh produce, kettle corn and tamales. We'd never been to the Berkeley market so we decided to give it a try. The market is a bit smaller than others, but still has a good selection. However, the prices seemed a bit crazy. As compared to other markets prices seemed to be 20% to 50% higher than what we usually pay. Perhaps there was some price inflation as this was the last market before Christmas and most markets were planned to be closed over the holidays, but we found many of the prices to be excessive.

I love going to Farmer's Market because of locally-owned businesses displaying their products to admirers like myself. I know many of you prefer me to buy my meals and foods at a Farmer's Market than a unhealthy Taquerias. I'll think about it. Berkeley's Farmers Market is operated all year round on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. I went to the one on Saturday on Center St. which is only one long block away from the Downtown Berkeley Bart Station. The first vendor I saw on the left was the Blue Bottle Coffee Company. For $2.00, the drip coffee is my needed battery to wake my ass up and walk around to check out local vendors. Among the vendors I saw were: -Many produce vendors from various parts of Northern California -Three Twins Ice Cream -Hog Island Oyster Company -Alive Vegan Food Company -Vital Vittles Breads -Prima Salsas and Tamales -Moonlite Bakery -Juniper Ridge (specialize in Health and Beauty products) -Happy Nut Farm (I'm not one of them, either) I also bought some fresh Apple Juice and six organic Fuji Apples from the Smit Ranch Company. The Organic Fuji Apple is currently in season and the most popular fruit right now. One bite of the fruit, I was amazed on how tasty and crunchy it was. Like they say, "An apple a day, helps keep the doctors away!" I'm already beginning to feel the "love" in Berkeley. If I'm in the East Bay city, expect me to come to this Farmer's Market for an healthy alternative.

For a long time, I couldn't see the point: why spend $2.39 for a pound of organic Moro blood oranges when you can get the same oranges for 59 cents/lb at the Monterey Market? Sure, this market has great ambience and wonderful smells, but shopping here didn't seem like a good practical choice to me. Now I stop by most Saturdays. Here are a few reasons: 1. Blue Bottle coffee (apologies if I've got the spacing and capitalization wrong). The people at the stand are sometimes clueless about the beans that they're selling, but the beans are great. So's the coffee that they sell by the cup. 2. Fresh salad greens. These are much better than the industrial organic greens that you see typically at the Monterey Market or the Berkeley Bowl. 3. The Fatted Calf. Right there, in a nutshell, is why I'm not a vegetarian. 4. Berries. I like the Swanton strawberries right now, but your berries will vary (with the season). 5. Coming here makes up for not owning a hybrid car. Doesn't it? 6. Samples!

Berkeley's Saturday morning Farmers' Market truly embodies the life and vibrancy that is Berkeley. The community comes here to celebrate life, living green, and seizing the day while also being eco-conscious and care-free. The whole vibe makes me want to smell all the flowers, taste all the fresh organic produce, and dance with the street musicians. Aside from the bounty of organic fruits and vegetables, please don't miss: * Lou Lou Garden's Rose Petal Jam, very rare because roses are temperamental even when in season, but it's the closest thing to pure ambrosia, delicious on fresh slices of baguette http://www.loulousgarden.com/-strse-3/Rose-Petal-Jam-%288/Detail.bok * Organic Fuji Apples from Smit Ranch, a bag of them barely lasts a couple days they're so crisp and full of juice like honey * Blue Bottle Coffee, ignore the flat stares of the "barrista" and grab a cup of hot drip coffee or New Orleans iced coffee before strolling down the food stalls * Three Twins Ice cream by the bucket and ice cream sandwiches * Tofu pate from some tofu vendor, great with crackers and toast * Roasted garlic asiago bread and gorgonzola walnut loaf from some great bakery stall, I can eat a whole loaf while walking home Living walking distance from a Berkeley Farmers' Market every other day is probably the biggest reason why I can never move anywhere else.

I always enjoy this market, especially the mushrooms, meyer lemons and the occasional massage. There are prominent signs saying, "No Dogs except service dogs" yet I constantly see people parading non service dogs into the market. People, I do NOT want to see your pitbulls and pit mixes at the market! Potential bloodbath waiting to happen.

I love the lederhosen guy, the brown croissants from octoberfeast, the flower-like organic salad mixes, the happy squashes and cauliflowers, olive loaf lady, the exorbitantly priced pears, the orchid stand, the free music, the fresh hot and cold apple cider, the crepes dude, the want to eat worms? guy, the blue bottle coffee, the himalyan food stand, the whole berkeley vibe. The stuff can be pricey, but it's a lovely way to spend a late sunny Saturday morning.

Berkeley farmers markets opens wednesday and sat. this review is for saturdays. lots of metered parking aroun locale: downtown, center & MLK way time: 10 a.m.-3, saturdays, year round organizer: ecology center vendors of interest -andy's & cindy\s thai food: organic -cafe zambala-interesting tibetan food -curry leaf cuisine -flaco's : organic mex -octoberfest bakery: breads -phoenix pastificio. pasta. breades -raw daddy's fun cone food : $5 vegggie food in a cone. tasty -st. benoit yogurt -hodo soy: tofu products notes: -not a lot of veggie sellers, berkeley bowl nearby? -interesting food vendors, some unique to berkeley (some go to grand lake also) -not as packed/diverse as grand lake but worth a trip.

Despite not being super large, this farmer's market has lots of wonderful things to offer. Just walking through the market itself, the air smelled fresh with the scent of produce and other goods. We spent a good amount of time walking around and visiting all the different vendors. I picked up a fresh blueberry pastry to snack on, and another friend got some fresh coffee. I got to try so many things like beef jerky, the sweetest pluots I have ever tasted, and some amazing strawberries. I ended up buying a few baskets of the strawberries to take home. My friends enjoyed some fresh oysters and another vendor had organic ice cream. If I lived closer, I know I would frequent this farmer's market a lot more. If you stop by, don't forget your reusable bag to bring home all the goodies you buy!

My top two things at the market have nothing to do with fresh or local produce. And as far as I am concerned they are the best things, hands down. Flying Disc Ranch sells bio-dynamic dried dates. The Barhi's are incredible. They will let you try one. Food of the gods, seriously. The Fatted Calf sells all kinds of incredible meat treats. Do yourself a favor, and buy a dried sausage to snack on as a palate cleanser for the Frog Hollow samples. Beyond that, though, I found that I never bought too much food here. I could always get better prices on equally good stuff from MM & BB.

At this block-long farmers market, you will quickly understand why people call it Biz-erkeley. You will find everything from vegan snacks to musicians and fresh juice. Often on Saturdays there's some event going on in the adjacent park. There is a venerable sense of community at this market, and always a patch of grass to sit down and tuck in to whatever you've purchased at the market that day.

I love the abundant amount of farmers' markets in the East Bay. This one is super convenient although parking can be tricky if you drive here. I went on a Saturday and was able to purchase some awesome produce. This is a smaller market but they have all of the usual items you will find at the larger ones. The stands are occupied by local peeps selling the fruits of their labor. No pun intended. Haha. Really though...There is just something about buying fresh produce from the source.

One of my favorite farmers' markets around. The farmers' market is surprisingly large with meats on the west end of the market and prepared foods on the east end of the market. It's a perfect set-up because you can do your shopping and then snack/eat lunch. They've got great fruit/veggie stands, but they also have some of my favorite prepared food stands including the Hodo Soy products (lots of different products that you can't get at most grocery stores) and Phoenix Pastificio (beautiful, handmade pasta). For food that's ready to eat for snacks and lunch, I really enjoy Andy and Cindy's Thai food and Flaco's for vegan Mexican food. Our typical routine is to buy a few taquitos at Flaco's while we stroll down the street, surveying the vendors and enjoying the day. Having a snack while going through the farmers' market helps to take the edge off - you can make better decisions without being so hungry!

This is a good size farmers market with high-quality produce. We loved the baked goods (Phoenix Pastificio chocolate cookies are A++) and we plan on returning again when we're in the area.

I'm a berkeley-sacramento commuter so I've been to the farmers markets in both cities as well as the one in Davis. This farmers market is probably the better one in Berkeley but it is not as good as the one in Sacramento or Davis. Vegetables are not as fresh as they should be and limited in varieties but the price is somewhat cheap. Fruits, cheese, bread are nothing to rave about. I always end up stopping by trader joe's afterward to complete my shopping. Several things that are the highlights of this market. I love the sprouts stand that has several different pea sprouts and sunflower shoots, the tofu stand offers delicious tofu meals and is definitely a winner. Lastly, blue bottle coffee with its customary long lines and very good coffee. Those three are reasons why I come back.

I'm writing a review on the vendor who sells strawberries from Swanton Berry Farm. Twice now, the same twenty/thirtysomething guy who works there has been rude, abrasive, and unprofessional. The first time was about whether he has any fresher strawberries left. Replying to my husband, the young man said in a biting tone, "If I had any, wouldn't I have them out?" My family decided to give this place another chance. We wanted to pick up fresh strawberries for a birthday cake we were making for our little girl. The second time couldn't have been more awful. He wouldn't let us pick strawberries placed on the display shelf. Instead he had us pick out strawberries that have been sitting in the sun--and many were overriped. We weren't going to pay good money ($4.50 a basket) for it. Long story short, he refused to sell us the ones in the display section. What's more, we heard him berating another customer. From now on, we're avoiding this vendor like the plague. We would rather pay $8 a basket at Whole Foods than take this crap.

You have such poor quality in eggplants!! You are suppose to be the epitome of organic and all things healthy! Shame....Your eggplants are horrendous. Never again will I buy anything at this market. You suck.

Quality: 4 Value: 3 Happened to walk by here while walking around since we had to wait 30 minutes for La Note brunch. Pleasantly surprised to see so many vendors at the Farmer's Market; lots of local produce, cheeses, and yogurts.

I love farmer's markets. And this is the biggest farmer's market in Berkeley (other other smaller ones are the Tuesday market at Derby & MLK, and the Thursday market at Shattuck & Rose). It gets CROWDED since it's a Saturday market, but it's still great nonetheless. Good selection of food and it's a FUN way to spend a Saturday morning! I like these farmers and the vendors. These are the same people who plant the vegetables, toil the soil, till the land, pluck them when it's fully ripe, and basically has seen the food from seed to full-grown crop. I love to ask them about where their farm is, which crop they are most proud of, and the recipe for the produce. The farmer's life is hard work. Especially so if you consider the effort necessary to bring you fresh produce from farms to your table. OF COURSE farmer's market produce are pricey!!! The certification of organic produce is taxing in cost, effort, and time to the farmers. It's unfair if you gauge their products with the commercial farm that produces by the thousands of acres with copious of insecticide, fungicide, pesticide, fertilizer necessary to support unnaturally large-scale productions. Think about it. Small local farms tend to practice more diversity, and plant a variety of crops in a much smaller land. And this goes a long way in the ecological balance and sustainability of the land. We may get the idea that all the produce you see in a farmer's stand / stall come from just one single farm, but the truth is in order to produce the excellent quality of vegetables and fruits, it is necessary for these farmers to grow their produce in farms in different areas where the microclimates and soil best suit the crops. Such dedication and attention to detail to bring you the best crops comes at a great cost! Therefore, know that the food is grown with love. By people who love their jobs, love the farm, despite the great risks that they face as farmers. 5 stars for Berkeley Farmer's Market! :) I seriously think that Berkeley residents (and Bay Area residents in general) are really lucky people because there are so many easily accessible farmer's markets around here.

The farmers market here is pretty cool. It's not as good as Sunnyvale's. This farmers in Berkeley was very green. They serve vegetarian and vegan style food here. Theres not that much to see because its literally a 3 minute walk from the beginning to the end of the street. I was excited to try their New Orleans coffee but it was kinda nasty and plain tasting. NOT my cup of coffee. What I dooo LOVE is their pecan cookies! OMG they are crispy, chewy, nutty, everything I love about how a cookies made. The vegan tamales were pretty good even though it was gluten free? Spicy as hell I know that! I like coming here still so I dont care.

We went to the Saturday Berkeley Farmer's Market, about a block from the Downtown Berkeley BART station. It was a beautiful day and we were picking up some fresh pork from Riverdog Farm so we took the trek up. It was a lot of fun! From the outside, the market looks really small. It's confined to a one block width.. But it's fairly long. There are not a ton of repetitive stalls, which is nice. Everyone is offering something different for the most part. There is the wide assortment of fruits and vegetables, but also oysters, ice cream, juice, yogurt, soup, honey, jellies, and meats. In fact, as a meat shopper, I was glad there was a meat vendor with pork, beef, and even lamb. Also, the selection of hot food is very nice as well. Most of them were vegan but a few of them had some omnivore selections, including the thai place which is what we had.. The chicken satay plate was awesome, and we enjoyed eating it in the park towards the end of the market! The thing that sets this market apart, however, is the people and the live music/artists. There were three, maybe four performers, from bluegrass to...well, wait, it all seemed like bluegrass. But either way, it was cool. Would recommend for sure. Great for kids and adults alike!

It's not huge (about one block long), but the Berkeley Farmers Market has everything you'd want: gorgeous fruits and vegetables in season, breads, cheeses, meats (and tofu), honeys, oils, jams--even sauerkraut. You can also buy cooked food, grab a seat on the grass, and enjoy the music and people-watching. The market happens three times a week, all year long. Saturday: MLK and Center, 10-3; Tuesday: MLK and Derby, 2-7; and Thursday (smaller, all organic): Shattuck and Rose, 3-7. I do have to set a budget for myself as it's not hard to spend more than you planned.

One look around this market at the earth's gorgeous splendor, one thing is clear: us Californians are spoiled rotten. Offering a cornucopia of organic produce, lightly processed kitchen goodies, plants and ready-to-eat treats every Saturday morning, the block provides ample temptation for your canvas sack. Some exotics: green eggs, that's right. (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/01/080130-eggs-video-ap.html) black chanterelles (gritty as all heck, be sure to brush out every crevice) six apple lespalier tree for the planting an entire stand devoted to goats milk products luscious dates an enthusiastic and creative jam/jelly lady Of course, you can get your fix of greens, tubers, berries (in season), breads, cheese, and even meats from The Fatted Calf, all while sipping a fresh Blue Bottle Coffee or a fresh smoothie. Park it in the neighboring park and enjoy your purchases. I usually drop in with a $20 and come out with an amazing technicolor spread when sticking to the fresh stuff. The cupboard products will generally eat more pennies, but its going straight into the pockets of the folks who make it, and I'm more than happy to cut out the middle man. Even when it's cloudy, somehow it always feels sunny in Berkeley. Wait, what's that I smell?

It's taken me a long time to warm up to this farmers' market and I finally have. Partly it's because I've come to know some of the vendors from other farmers' markets. This market has always seemed too crowded, parking is problematic and it always seemed a bit "Berkeleyer than thou". However, Saturday I needed some organic strawberries for a fruit salad and I knew I could trust the ones here to be organic. It was a beautiful, sunny day. I found a parking spot across from City Hall and walked over. I passed a flower stand w/ a mass of fragrant freesias, beautiful tulips and irises and other flowers. I promised myself I'd get a bunch of freesias on the way out. I saw OctoberFeast, which has stopped coming to the Kensington farmers' market and picked up a couple of pretzel croissants. I was surprised and pleased to happen on Frog Hollow Farms. I looked longingly at their risotto tart but decided against it because Sunday was Alan's birthday and I knew there would be birthday cake around. I found the strawberries and bought a basket. I bought freesias on the way back to the car. It's a nice market, although I'd still go first to El Cerrito's farmers' market on a Saturday morning.

Private Investigations Case# 2015-04_bc "The Beets Go In" End transcript 10:36:21 am_11_14_15 10:35 am: "B" and "C" seen leaving the farmers' market, cross MLK to the opposite side of the street, traffic light to moderate. They unlock the hatchback of their vehicle and are visibly seen redistributing purchased goods into blue coolers and assorted cotton reusable bags. Beet greens are still clearly visible. Every item, we presume at this stage, is likely to be organic. Eggs, fresh herbs, and two types of tomatoes all are observed going into the "chilled" bag. Other items - dates, tangerines, lemons, butternut squash, Nardello peppers, baby gem lettuce, red grapes, globe eggplant - are stowed securely before the car signals left and pulls into traffic. They turn right at the corner and are gone. The beets, it seems, did go in. 10:22 am: Observed suspects are seen choosing mandarin oranges and lemons from a small vendor's stall. "B" casts a look back towards the Red Bay coffee stand, as if to confirm that, indeed, the Ecology Center needs to update its website. Blue Bottle is no longer at the market; Red Bay has definitively arrived. 10:18 am: Suspect "B" is now engaged in conversation with man selling dates, at least 20 varieties - possibly more. More dialogue ensues, but do not wish to compromise my listening post by approaching closer. "B" points to two containers, then receives dates in brown bag. Cash - $6 - is exchanged. 10:12 am: There are clearly beets in "B"s hand - yellow-red, perhaps Chioggia? Must confirm this detail later. The peppers, however, can positively be identified:Jimmy Nardellos. Delicious grilled with Spanish olive oil and alderwood smoked salt. Perhaps "B" will prepare these in a cast-iron skillet later tonight? Maybe the eggplant, too, smoky garlicky baba ganoush style. With red flint polenta on the side. A bottle of Southern Rhône wine - a Vaucluse, perhaps - from Kermit Lynch. After the meal, in front of the crackling fireplace, there might be Sulawesi peaberry French Press coffee and wild blueberry scones with powdered mulling spices, followed by a neat glass of Montana rye whiskey. How typical! After all, he has done *exactly* this sort of thing before. You see: this is not my first investigation of "B" and "C" or their eccentric foodie ways ... 10:09 am: "B" and "C" make another set of vegetable purchases, from what appears to be the Happy Boy farm stand. Butternut squash, baby gem lettuce, fresh herb, possibly parsley, but hard to make out from this surveillance angle. Will relocate and change to a larger zoom lens. 10:06 am: Suspects reenter the market area from the North, after approximately 50 minutes spent on the UC Berkeley campus, including - we think - the Doe Library. Must corroborate detail with the help of campus camera footage and follow-up interview with student staff at entrance. The vehicle in which they came (2011 Subaru Outback Sport, color: dark blue, tires: Bridgestone DriveGuard RFTs, roof rack removed) remains parked on MLK, time remaining on ticket: until 10:35 am. So, they plan on shopping at market for 30 minutes, one may speculate. 9:10 am: "B" and "C" walk through the farmers market, a blocked off section of Center St. They make note of vendors of interest, check the time, and move off to the North. Destination is as yet unknown. Follow on foot commences. 9:02 am: Car arrives on scene. Begin of surveillance in earnest. The two suspects - "B" and "C" - depart the vehicle and proceed across MLK to the SW corner of Circle St. "B" has a soft-sided blue cooler hung over right shoulder, cotton reusable shopping bags clearly visible. One wonders: will the beets go in? Start transcript 9:01:55 am_11_14_15

I really try not to write scathing reviews on yelp (unless it's Jazz at Pearls), but seriously, this place is full of assholes. I was there last Satuday, and have to say, I ran into so many rude vendors--there are so many stories to relay, but it's late in the day, so for now I will just concentrate on one asshole that really stuck out to me. So, walking through, I paused to take a look at sushi rolls being sold at a stand selling raw/live/whatever food and picked up a sushi roll filled with what appeared to be nothing. I was just about to put down the astronomically priced raw log when some chic shouts (And when I say "shouts", I mean a Berkeley shout, which isn't really shouting, but more of a passive aggressive "request": "Could you puh-leaze give us a few minutes? If you don't mind?!?!? We are still setting up here, okay!?! Okay?!? Thanks! THANKS!!!" Okay, wtf? First off, it 9:52 am--what kind of lazy ass farmers work here that no one is set up yet?

Website: http://www.ecologycenter.org/bfm/ Organizer: Ecology Center, since 1987 Season: open all year, except as noted. Schedule: Downtown Berkeley - Sat. 10am-3pm South Berkeley - Tue. 2-6:30pm Albany - Wed. 3-7pm (Jun-Oct) North Berkeley - Thu. 3-7pm I love farmers' markets. And it's no different with Berkeley's Farmers Markets, although much smaller (one block) than San Francisco's Saturday farmers market at the Ferry building. I came to the Saturday location to show this farmers market to my classmate Tomo, an international student from Japan, along with other friends who live in the area. As expected prices for produce are expensive here. But I usually just buy what I'm gonna eat that same day (fruit, pastries, or a cookie), so it's not a big expense for me. Some of the vendors are the same as in SF, that's why I have no urgency to buy something to carry home. Naturally, sampling the different seasonal varieties of fresh fruit available is one of the benefits I enjoy the most. In general, a wonderful place to stroll around on sunny days. **Yelp fixed this already - The address posted in Yelp for this Berkeley's Farmers Market is incorrect. That address is for the Ecology Center (San Pablo Ave) office which organizes the markets, not the location of the actual farmers' market. The Saturday Farmers Market is located on Center street at Milvia st. If you get off at the BART Downtown Berkeley station, walk left on Center street, just one block to Milvia st. That's it. The same farmers' market is available on Tuesdays but located on Derby street at Martin Luther King Way (south of Berkeley's Downtown, see update below), and on Thursdays, on Shattuck Ave. at Rose street (one block north of Berkeley's Gourmet Ghetto area). And Wednesdays in Albany at Solano. ** Update: On July 10, 2012 the Tuesday FM location moved further south, next to Sweet Adeline Bakeshop. I'm not going to write reviews for the separate FM locations. But below are the other links, in case anyone wants to read what other yelpers have to say. Tuesdays - http://www.yelp.com/biz/berkeley-tuesday-farmers-market-berkeley Wednesdays - http://www.yelp.com/biz/albany-farmers-market-albany-3 Thursdays - http://www.yelp.com/biz/berkeley-farmers-market-berkeley-4

I went here a couple of times after working out at the 24 hour Fitness on Addison St. Cute little market that extends for a block. I try to support local farmers and businesses as much as I can and try to buy organic. The produce are incredibly fresh. Vendors also sell meats, breads, fish, and flowers. I've bought the most delicious grapes here and fuji apples. The only drawback is the price. For Asian pears and peaches, it can be as much as $3 which is a bit steep for me. Make sure to buy produce that you'll use in the next couple of days as it can rot quicker. I learned that the hard way.

This is the best farmers market in the area. Great produce selection - out of which - happy boy farms bests all others. Fifth quarter charcuterie - Scott is the butcher, owner and the guy who tells you what to eat. You can't go wrong. Combine that with the flacos tent, three twins ice cream, the tamale guy, the avocado guy, olive oil vendors, cheese, etc etc. Always crowded, but the lines are never too bad. You can't lose.

Truly the best way to sustain yourself in-season. And what's nicer than an outdoor market? Here you'll find fresh ripe fruits and vegetables, as well as assortments of baked breads, pastries, local honey (good for allergies!) and chutneys made from Asian pear. The growers and vendors are good people, ready with a sample slice of melt-in-your-mouth persimmon or a tip for how best to cook leeks. Bring a basket or a big, big bag. You will need it. A tip - watch out for the pickpockets. It just adds to the European-ness of the experience, doesn't it?

I work in downtown Berkeley, so it takes a lot to get me across town on the weekends. This weekend's Strawberry Family Fun Fest was the first in a string of four 20th anniversary seasonal celebrations for the Berkeley Farmer's Market, and if it's good enough for Bakesale Betty, it's good enough for me! There appeared to be only four famers selling strawberries, but we picked up some peaches and pluots too... and of couse, Betty's famous strawberry shortcake. The bottom line: See you Tuesday, July 17 at Derby and MLK for peach cobbler by Frog Hollow! ERF

Sometimes I see Yelp reviews that just suck - let's dissect this one. A Yelper said - "I saw the most beautiful vegetables I've ever seen here. Just dreamy. I also like all the farmer's market boys with their glowing skin and guerrilla-organic chic. Just my style. " I say- Love this line. So Berkeley. Glowing skin - it's called manual labor. She should try it! And what is guerilla-organic chic?!?! I guess a ripped Che T-shirt, a too-cool-for-school attitude and dirt-under-my -fingernails....and the ladies would be on me like flies. The Yelper continues- "Too bad they all live on some farm somewhere picking fruit all summer, studying CCOF certification practices, and generally being too cool for dirty hipster cities." I say- LOVE THIS LINE TOO. Does she just like guys she cannot have? I bet when they are horny in Fresno, they will settle for a dirty hipster chick.... The crazy Yelper keeps typing- " Sigh. "Welcome, this is our farmhouse, with the cluster flies, alas, at this time of year there is little we can do, but swat them..." I bet it's just like that, where they live." I say- This chick needs to go hang out on a farm in the Central Valley. She would love it. Living in squalor. Picking organic veggies all day long with her glowing skin men. Sleeping with the flies at night. Living her dirty hipster world behind. I pray her dreams come true one day. And she knows Spanish. Is she delusional?

The Saturday market is wonderful. Check out Redwood Hills farm goat cheese, milk, yogurt and kefir. Delicious and humanely farmed. (The goats get vacation). Oktoberfeast for the best gluten-free bread. Blossom Bluff Orchards for fruit, Bernie's Best for everything apple, Mr. Davis for eggs, potatoes and pecans, Riverdog for produce. Also the raw food guy who has wraps and smoothies. Loulou makes wonderful jams - some with very little sugar. Andy & Cindy's Thai for fish curry. Flaco's for roasted corn in season. Gabriels for Asian Pear/Apple Juice. There's more, come check it out. It is a real treat to give money directly to the farmer, and to buy produce that has been picked within a day or two of coming to market. I have become spoiled now so that even local produce bought through local stores does not taste as good to me.