The Best Local Farmers Markets and What to Buy in Season

Santa Ana residents turned out in force last Saturday for the first July session of the downtown farmers market, where vendors reported selling out of stone fruit by midmorning.

The timing aligns with the height of local harvest season, when daytime highs near 85 degrees push crops like tomatoes and corn to ripen faster and bring lower prices to market stalls than at any other point in the year.

Markets worth the trip

The Santa Ana Certified Farmers Market operates every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the 300 block of East 4th Street, drawing growers from Orange County fields and offering a shaded seating area next to the Civic Center plaza. A second option runs Tuesdays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. along Main Street in the Artists Village, managed by the Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce and featuring a dedicated stand for the county nutrition program that accepts CalFresh benefits.

Both locations sit within walking distance of the 55 Freeway exits, making them convenient stops after work for residents in the French Park and Logan neighborhoods.

July produce to watch

Current pricing at the 4th Street market lists Early Girl tomatoes at $1.75 per pound and bi-color corn at $4 for a half-dozen ears, figures roughly 30 percent below the average supermarket tag recorded by the county agricultural commissioner last month. Peaches from the same vendor run $3 per pound, while zucchini and yellow squash sell for $2 a pound in bulk bags.

Shoppers should arrive early for the best selection of berries, which move quickly once the temperature climbs past 80 degrees.

Check the market websites or call the chamber office at 714-541-3663 before heading out to confirm any last-minute vendor changes, then plan meals around what looks freshest that day.