Best Local Farmers Markets and What to Buy in Season

Santa Ana Certified Farmers Market on 4th Street and Spurgeon Street opens at 8 a.m. each Saturday through the end of July with crates of ripe stone fruit and early corn.

Interest in seasonal eating has grown here because local produce reaches shoppers within hours of harvest, cutting storage time and preserving nutrients during the hottest weeks of the year.

The market at 4th and Spurgeon sits two blocks from the Santa Ana Public Library and draws vendors from Orange County farms. A second option operates Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Centennial Park on the corner of 1st Street and Flower Street, run by the Delhi Community Center with stalls that accept CalFresh benefits.

Top Markets to Visit

Both locations list their weekly harvest online the day before opening. At 4th and Spurgeon, shoppers find parking on nearby side streets or at the city lot on 5th Street. Centennial Park offers bike racks along the perimeter and shaded seating under the park trees.

Seasonal Picks for July

July brings Santa Ana growers their first sweet corn at $4 per half-dozen ears and heirloom tomatoes priced at $3 a pound. Apricots and early peaches sit at $5 for a two-pound basket. Zucchini and yellow squash run $2 a pound, while bundles of basil sell for $2 each. Market staff report that sales of these items rose 14 percent between June 2025 and June 2026, according to the Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce tally.

Arrive before 9 a.m. on Saturday or before 4 p.m. on Thursday to select the firmest fruit and ask vendors about their irrigation methods. Bring reusable bags and a cooler bag for items that sit in the July sun. Those new to the markets can start with a single basket of tomatoes and corn, then return the following week to add peaches once the season peaks.