Danville Farmers’ Market

I have been going to the Danville Farmers’ Market for at least 15 years, if not longer and it keeps going downhill. There are still a handful of vendors who I still go to and buy from, but some of my favorites are gone.
There’s not much variety in the produce anymore. Everyone sells oranges during orange season and all for the same high price. Everyone sells tomatoes, or cherrys, or whatever at the same time for the same high price. This year, the «Apple Guy» retired, as did the «Peach Guy.» These two vendors alone brought to the market a wide variety of their produce to select from, and I will miss talking with them.
I would have given the Market at least 3 stars, but my biggest complaint is that the vendors and their helpers all park in the main parking lot, taking the parking spots closest to the market entrance. If you don’t get there early, especially during summer or around major holidays, forget about parking! One time a vendor parked his one van in a total of four parking spots! Many other trucks/​vans take up two precious parking spots. If I can’t locate a parking spot after circling around twice, I move on to Trader Joe’s and then head to the San Ramon Farmers Market.
My second biggest complaint is that the Market staff do nothing to stop people from bringing their dogs into the market area and generally look the other way. I love dogs, but there are signs everywhere that they are not allowed inside the market, which many people seem to ignore.

This farmers market is one of the smaller one’s I’ve been to, but still pleasant enough. It’s not as jam packed like the farmers market at the Marin Civic Center. I come mostly for the food items and not the produce so much. The prices here, being Danville, are no bargain and gives a little meaning to the term «Farmers Markup» instead of market. But, hey, don’t come looking for a bargain, go to Walmart for that, just pay and enjoy yourself. This is a great stop on a bike ride on the Iron Horse Trail which goes right by the market. Start in Walnut creek and ride here and munch on some tasty treats and then ride back ot continue all the way to Dublin. THe Danville Farmer’s Market is a decent market, but I wouldn’t drive out of my way just to come here. If you live here then it’s great. Brig cash as usual for farmers markets.

A great farmers market and many organic choices. The crepes place is a must try as well.

Danville Farmers Market isn’t the 10 tent operation it was a few years ago.
today, the food vendors outnumbered the fruit/​veggie vendors (seasonal since winter isn’t the usual growing time for most fruits/​veggies).
food vendors: bakeries, crepes, mexican, coffee, flatbread pizza, pratcher meats, seafood, hummus, kettlecorn, juice, etc. (mirrors grand lake, walnut creek in vendor offerings)
9−1p.m. saturdays year round.
note:
–restrooms in train caboose with stuffed engineer dolls in the middle chambers.
–easy street parking.

The Danville farmers market is a surprisingly great farmers market, yes– but it’s so much more than that.
I’m only back on the left coast for the summer, and this was my first and only weekend in the suburbs. I decided to take a bike ride down the old iron horse trail and enjoy a true suburban Saturday, which of course included a stop at the town farmers market. I came here many a time in my youth, but probably haven’t stopped by in almost 2 years-​my childhood in Danville did not lend me a ton of free Saturday mornings in the later years.
If you’re looking for your usual spoils of California’s fertile lands– think gorgeous heirloom tomatoes, delicious strawberries (hit up medina farms), and, of course, the perfect juicy deliciousness of frog hollow farms peaches– you’ll find everything you could ever ask for here. Although I don’t usually indulge, there are at least 3 delicious-​looking bakeries peddling goods. There used to be a pea man who sold $ 18 brown paper sacks of the most delicious green spheres, but I didn’t see him today, and as I haven’t stopped by in a while, I’m not sure if he still sets up shop. And yes, it’s expensive-​this is the 925, after all. You will drop $ 3 on a single peach here, but it will be worth it.
The Danville GOP contingent does make the occasional appearance-​it will be interesting to see their candidate and slogans of choice for 2016 given the current circus.
The market is a true community gathering in the heart a very special place. My return to the market made me incredibly nostalgic, and helped me to take a second to appreciate this town I was always too stubborn and cynical to call home. Danville is a little bit ridiculous, yes– full of blonde soccer moms decked in lulu who are never without a Starbucks nonfat iced latte in their hands, driving SUVs with faded «eat my bubbles» car paint emblazoned on the side windows-​but there’s no denying this community is pretty special. Next time you have a lazy Saturday morning, stop by the farmers market. Take a stroll down Hartz, Railroad, Prospect, and Front and observe the community at its best– families brunching al fresco at local favorites like Valley Medlyns, Norms, Basil Leaf, and Domenico’s after the morning Mustang soccer match, checking out new businesses like Blue Line Pizza and Locando’s (RIP Father Natures, btw– this was unexpected and a little bit heart wrenching), and showing off their pride for local San Ramon Valley High School with ubiquitous SRV football t-​shirts and visors (go wolves). I’m not really sure when, if ever, I’ll be back in Danville for an extended period of time, but this morning at the farmers market definitely gave me the chance to reflect on and appreciate my time here-I’m a little bit sad that my family and I didn’t take full advantage of the community atmosphere when I did live here. For the first time, I can definitely see the charm of a suburban lifestyle, and Danville is suburbia at its best. It’s an incredibly easy, and special, place to live, and if you were lucky enough to grow up here, take a second to appreciate all this town has to offer.
In conclusion, go to the Danville farmers market.

Lunardi’s has been a staple for us ever since we discovered the kids’ turkey breast was available all year round (’cause it’s not at other stores!). We’d always see the tents set up in the Lunardi’s parking lot, for the Danville Farmers’ Market but we never stopped by until this past weekend
Steve’s Bees Honey — incredibly delish, raw, unprocessed, honey — only variety was wildflower, in various sized jars. This honey was thick, sweet & complimented our lattes in the best way! Would totally come back for this honey!
We also happily found a stand from Pot Pie Paradise — we heart this place! — & indulged in their Butternut Squash & Sweet Potato Curry pot pies
Also indulged in some homemade peach & strawberry jams — both were scrumptious but really runny
Misses for us came from a homemade pasta stand as well as a pastry table — both were very bland & didn’t offer the artisan, hand-​crafted quality we’d been expecting. Would completely skip these in the future
Lots of fresh fruits, veggies, olive oils & other stands offering mini-​donuts, mexican goodies & crepes… would be worth another visit
But for 2 hits, 1 runny-​but-​okay, & 2 misses, have to say 3-​Stars for now. Not really a huge fan but consider this market as A-​OK — saving the option to update upon other taste tests

My perfect Saturday consists of a morning at the farmers market and a great blowout. Last week was just that. I’ve been to plenty of farmers markets so my standards are pretty high. My best friend works the Way to Life granola stand at the Danville market so I’ve been wanting to stop by for some time now. Although it is a bit small, it has a lot to offer. I scored lots of fruits and produce and vendors are always willing to give discounts of a couple $$ off.
You can buy all your locally grown produce, meats, honey, baked goods and specialty products along with flowers and yummy food!
I love farmers markets and the families, live music, and nearby businesses where you can grab a coffee & quick bite before or after the market.
TIP: try the tamales (get it with guac) and the mini donuts they’re bomb! My best friend bakes and sells the granola for Way to Life foods and I haven’t had better! And remember to bring your own bags and cash!

Best farmers’ market in the area! We go just about every Saturday morning. Everyone there, both vendors and community members, is super friendly and there’s a decent mix of what’s available (produce, flowers, olive oil, the best kalamata olives ever, cheese, etc). We also love that is located within walking distance of great restaurants where we can grab brunch.
The only reason that I didn’t give it 5 stars is because it’s a bit small. Though, we are used to going to the one in Madison, WI, which is the largest in the nation.

Love this farmer’s market!
Must visits:
— The «avocado» lady! $ 1.50/each or 5 for $ 7. She sorts them out in order or ripeness. These are the best avocados out there!
–The mini cinnamon sugar donuts are amazing! They are in the booth right at the intersection. $ 5 for a dozen. You can watch your donuts being made in the small contraption. Batter goes into the fryer, then gets flipped to fry the other side, then up a conveyor belt into a bowl.
–The «kale» and mini watermelon booth
–The organic «nectaplum» or «cherry plum» vendor. Their pluots and stone fruits are so sweet!
There are a few certified organic farmers and several that are «pesticide-​free».
Lots of vendors here so walk around first.
Occasionally, the SPCA will host pet adoptions. Cats are in the truck and dogs on the sidewalk.

There’s a lot to like here; people are friendly, prices competitive, quality of produce is excellent, and there’s some solid food stands here.
I’ll get this out of the way, if you’re coming here for sure stop by zolo for coffee, get a nice breakfast crêpe, and a fried egg sandwhich if you’re still hungry. This place does get busy, so make sure you come early if you want the best selection. Stuff is super seasonal here, and you will find some nice unique stalls (peach white balsamic vinegar is something unique I found here). Bring cash to be safe, but note that some places here take credit card (not too many).

I really wanted to give this FM a 3.5 but instead I just rounded up. First let me say that Bolani has excellent foods. The eggplant is to die for! Well, that is if you like eggplant. It is actually the best eggplant I have ever had. Special order this from them. You won’t be disappointed.
This market seems to have decent prices and the quality of venders is very good. By decent I mean don’t go there expecting inexpensive.
Now for the bad part. Parking is a total nightmare so walk there or drive a very small car. It is also a pretty small FM and it’s definitley crowded. Also, the booths that are not food or crafts that have nothing to do with food or farmers, are inappropriate. We go to the FM for enjoyment and healthy options. I do not appreciate political hate booths (either party) or financial planners making statements as I walk by. The market is small with limited space. Please sell booth space to appropriate vendors. Keep it positive and healthy please.
So warning, if you go there you may just be have to put up people preaching political views.

Per square footage, the best farmer’s market in the east bay. Set-​up on the far end of Lunardi’s Market and across the heart of Downtown Danville, it’s situated perfectly for those looking for either a productive Saturday morning or a leisurely one.
I personally recommend the flower folks, Prather’s Meats (grass fed, top of the line cuts), the crepes and the mini– donuts. If you have kids enjoy the railroad museum too.
One of the weekend highlights of living in the Tri-​Valley.

Discovered Zolo coffee at the Market. They actually roast the best coffee right at the market. We always have the super coffee at the market and take home fresh roasted coffee beans to last the week. You should meet Dave who with his son is roasting coffee beans every week at the market. They seem to know everything about coffee and will pass that knowledge on for free.

I was going to do 2 stars but it’s more 2.5 so I rounded up — you win this round Farmers Market.
Why 2 stars?
A) I can’t wrap my arms around spending 20−50% more for produce here than Lunardis RIGHT ACROSS THE PARKING LOT! Seriously. You park at Lunardis, even walk past Lunardis to go to the Farmers Market! I’ve done my own price check, quasi secret shopper mission and Market mo pricey than the grocery store (I just picked Lunardis here bc proximity. Same applies to Trader Joes 1 block away. But MAJOR warning Lucky’s produce is not comparable it’s disgusting — that’s a different review…). I completely get going if there is something rare or unique So why pay more at the Farmers Market? «I want to support my local farmers» you say? Ok great. Go to Lunardis, buy your organic blueberries, strawberries, celery, apples, etc that were grown in CA and then go give one of the market vendors (farmers) a $ 20 bill. Cold hard cashola, 100% profit for the guy/​gal. He’s stoked, you get that good, supporting local feeling and life’s dandy. Plus, he doesn’t lose product on your $ 20. Sounds weird right? Well why don’t you get that same «Meh, that’s weird» feeling by paying extra at the farmers market? Just a little produce for thought…
2) The place is a zoo. Busy, packed, mad house. It’s summer, weekend @ Disneyland busy — yea that busy. I’ve got 3 little monkeys so navigating crowds is a chaotic dance. I’ve for sure lost a kid for 5min 5 – 6 times. I mean lady, can you please move over so my double BOB stroller can skooch past you? No it’s ok just keep standing there in the middle of this skinny aisle… I am not on the brink of a baby melt down. Parking is obviously an issue too.
III) irregular pricing. You get buyers remorse. You know that feeling when you pay $ 5 for a basket of strawberries then move on to the next aisle and this guy is selling them for $ 3! Probably can’t return them but hey you supported local right ?! You could beat this by walking the place 2 – 3 times and checking prices on all the items you want — if you had nothing better to do with your life or were just wired that way. I have done that and it’s a time suck. Go to Lunardis or TJs already (see A above).
Why more than 2 stars?
I) They have unique items, produce, vendors that you can’t find elsewhere or all in one place. I love No Joke Juice. They make fresh juices there and they are all fantastic! It’s pricey @ $ 9/​16oz but I’ve made plenty of juice and the cost is high so $ 9 cup has probably $ 6 worth of product alone. #supportlocal
B) They typically have good kids activities like a face painter or balloon guy. This weekend was henna tattoos so we passed on that. This stuff isn’t too pricey so it’s fun for the babes.
3) If you’re into people watching this is a good spot. Lots of people to watch so the ingredients are there. There’s a couple tables for you to perch at also by the NW corner of the market.
Some bad some good I guess. We go 1 – 2 a month just to walk around and see if there’s anything good and I like to get a juice from No Joke Juice. 3 Stars

WARNING: if you choose to read this and don’t want to hear a rant then don’t read past the 3^rd paragraph.
Having Frog Hollow Farms is worth Five Stars alone. IMO it’s some of the best
organic fruit around. It appears to be apricot season and they did not disappoint. The fruit was delicious as expected.
Borba Farms is another organic favorite of mine. They have golden raspberries that are always sweet and never bitter. Unfortunately, there is a «Danville Tax» on their produce. The raspberries were $ 1.50 more than my local farmers market.
Bolani had fantasitc spreads that were all delicious. I couldn’t decide on the spreads but knew I wanted the Spinach Bolani because it was oh so good. The woman at the booth told me that I could freeze it for up to 6 months and should reheat it in a skillet. I appreciated her level of knowledge and excitement about her products.
It was a five star day until we were on our way out. That’s where we noticed a GOP table and then caddycorner to it, an impeach POTUS table. The most offensive part about it was the hitler mustache drawn on President Obama’s face. Being somewhere in the center of the political spectrum allows me to be annoyed with the fringe on the Right and Left. The Right pissed me off today.
When I am looking for a source of information I listen to NPR, visit the BBC’s website, and read articles from the AP. I don’t go the farmers market to visit the local bro who threw together disrespectful propaganda. Hopefully they have paid something to the PCFMA and they aren’t just squatters trying to mix politics with produce and baked goods.

On a few Saturday mornings, I took a walk up to the San Damiano Retreat. On the way back to the parking lot, I stopped by the farmers market. It’s small but you can get everything you want from fresh fruits and produce to meats to pastries to raw milk to kettle corn to flowers and more! All the vendors are super friendly and offer reasonable prices. Lots of families and people from the neighborhood frequent this farmers market. Plenty of parking in the Lunardi’s lot or on the street.

Still great. Now there’s a booth there selling French pastries. Did not catch the name, but they sell amazingly beautiful pies, high quality French baked items and believe it or not, one of the best bagels I have ever eaten.
I know French and bagels don’t really go together, but trust me. Try it. It doesn’t even look like a bagel. What is a French bagel called? A baglette?

There are some truly excellent farmers here – Borba, for one. But whether this is a farmer’s market or just a food bazaar is questionable.
I go to a farmer’s market to buy agricultural products – vegetables, fruit, dairy. The Danville market has one meat seller, one milk seller, one cheese seller. If you find swiss chard at one vendor, there is swiss chard at every vendor. This market lacks in variety.
The Danville Farmer’s market also offers chocolate, kettle corn, crepes, donuts, bread, granola, an occasional table from Costco, pita bread, pasta, cookies, etc. These things are NOT farm produce! I wouldn’t mind so much except the market lacks produce variety, is expensive, and these types of offerings keep expanding.
Beware: not all farmers are organic.
The produce is better than Safeway’s and this market is better than those that allow cell phone marketers but it still needs improvement. You’d never know from this market that California exports a wide variety of produce to the rest of the nation.

Things may look different looking in the rear view mirror, it’s true. But the Danville Farmers Market is where I cut my weekly Farmers Market teeth nearly twenty years ago when I called Danville home. Starting out as a seasonal Farmers Market, and within a couple of years becoming year round, I loved this market then. It felt like being home every Saturday morning as I parked my car and walked across the street to the Railroad Avenue lot where it was held.
A comment in a Danville located Unilocal friend’s review that referenced the Farmers Market — still in the same location — tugged at my heart and made me realize things in the rear view mirror really are closer than they seem.
I remember wonderful vendors and a happy spirit at this market. We used to line up early, before the opening market bell rang, in the «Tomato Lady» line. We’d compare notes with friends on peach varieties offered from week to week. It was great to see what the fisher-​woman would have available on ice, line caught the day before. Goat dairy vendors appeared to offer wonderful cheese and yogurt,. Farmers who grew wonderful root vegetables would bring in things for us to try that they thought we would like based on what we’d bought from them in weeks prior. In fall there were nuts fresh off the tree and beautiful squash to cook with or tuck into fall décor.
Farmers Markets are about the vendors and the shoppers, the communion of those who grow the food and those who appreciate and are nourished by their efforts. They are about locales where all people of all abilities and ages are equally welcome to participate through good access. As is the case here.
My hubby and I are Farmers Market junkies and make sure we visit them wherever we go and sometimes make a trip specifically for the purpose of going to a market. about which we’ve heard good things. Including markets several hundred miles away.
It has been several years since we enjoyed shopping at the Danville Farmers Market. I’m thinking it may be time for an overnight road trip to shop at the Saturday Farmers Market soon.
I’m feeling homesick. And sometimes you can go home again.
Enjoy this wonderful market, Danville folk. It’s a gem.

So there are Farmer’s Markets, everywhere, every weekend. I live in San Francisco and you may ask «What were you doing at the Danville Farmer’s Market?»
My answer consist of two words: Shandy’s Kitchen.
Best Indian food I’ve ever had. I don’t know what it is, is it the butter? is it the friendly staff? is it the large portion? Is it the «home cooking» taste? Is it the fair valued price?
It’s all of the above, and then some.
I was in awe and ended up having a lengthy conversation with the chef. A guy who went to culinary school and decided to devote his practice to perfect Indian cooking.
Perfection it was. Go to Danville this Saturday and you’ll see what I mean.