Atascadero's Farmer's Market is one of four North County Farmer's Markets, including Baywood, Paso…read moreRobles, Templeton, & Cambria... which does not include several more South SLO County Farmer's Markets that are either seasonal, or yr. round.
By request [thanks Ron] here are details:
Date/Time: Weds. 3-6PM [all year, but seasonal variation of size from peak season of 1.5 park blocks to off-season 3/4 block].
Location: Off of Route 101, exit Traffic Way & go about 2 1/2 blocks to Sunken Garden Park, next to historic downtown SLO. It starts at the intersection of E Mall St. & El Camino Real and ends next to City Hall [a marvelous vintage restored 1913 building, which functions as a City hall +2 museum rooms].
Link: https://northcountyfarmersmarkets.com/markets
While we have been regulars at the major Farmer's Markets from SLO to Arroyo Grande, as well as, North County's "secret" Baywood FM on Mondays, this was our first experience with this one in Atascadero.
While it was smaller than Baywood's, and also smaller due to being off season, we still found goodies to buy & some nice vendors. They ranged from the wonderfully fresh & tasty vege juices from one nice vendor [JUICEBOSS-charming Amy [Owner] & Brooke [Master Juicer]], to homemade slices of date pie from another [ A-Town Humble Pies [by the slice], with Alicia & Ian, who have also have a nice Facebook page {with lots of Pie "Porn"} & do special full pie orders, in yet another home "Mom & Pop" wonderful small business. Their phone is 1-(310) 999-4550, email is contact@atownhumblepies.com, & their link is https://atownhumblepies.com]. Late, my wife absolutely adored the pie, once warmed per Alicia's recommendation.
We snagged some unique delicate baby purple Artichokes from a smiling local Farmer.
Bought a bottle of SLO locally home-brewed hard Cider from the "bubbly" SLO Creek Farms, who have a seasonal farm stand in SLO [complete with a 44 acre certified organic apple orchard, U-pick Apples/Herbs/Pumpkins/Veges, activities, & more in SLO. Details: 6455 Monte Rd., SLO, Ca 93401 [directly off of the 101 San Luis Bay Drive exit & a left onto Monte Rd.]; 702-245-3135;
Hours 11am-5pm all week (Sept. to End of Nov.); slocreekfarms@live.com;
http://www.slocreekfarms.com ;
Sometimes they do limited edition Apple Brandy as well.].
Even though it was only about a dozen vendors, it did the trick.
It also takes place in the verdant park in downtown Atascadero, right in front City Hall, & a fountain.
Who knew that Atascadero had such a pleasant area?
As a part of my "mission" to check out and review all the Farmers Markets within reasonable driving distance from the greater Pismo/SLO area, this was an easy one to check off. We also made the most of our Atascadero trip by hitting the discount stores [Big Lots & Grocery Outlet] up the road a bit. Big Lots even had a 50-75-90% off clearance sale for holiday items.
I also had the pleasure of chatting with a few friendly vendors, as well as, the nice people at the information booth. If you are short on cash, the information booth also can help you use ETB, ATM, or CC as a means to purchase chits [with a nominal $1.50 charge], if you happened not to have enough cash with you. The Chits can be used at all four North County Farmer's Markets, where all vendors take the Chits [non-North County FM do not take these chits]. This is a really nice feature, since not too many vendors take credit cards, at our area's plethora of Farmer's Markets.
In any case, one may want to bring an extra Farmers Market wallet to stuff cash into, if you are a Farmer's Market fanatic like me, and do not want to add too much bulky cash to your primary wallet.
While there is another listing for a "North County" Farmers Market at this address, it would be easy to confuse with the other 3 North County Farmers Markets in other cities, so I created a new Atascadero specific Yelp listing to reduce confusion....and make a search easier.
Except for Sundays, you can usually find at least 1-3 active Farmer's Markets on other days of the week, in the greater SLO or North Santa Barbara areas. Even on Sunday, you are still blessed with one or more really good Farmer Stands to score Farm fresh food. Many are in the Avila/AG/Grover Beach area [i.e. Avila Barn or Rutiz Farm]. Off of See Canyon Road near Avila you can find one, or more Apple/Cider Farm Stands, some are seasonal. One even has dozens of Peacocks! Avila Barn has a plethora of local pies, produce, ice-cream, nicknacks, & a feed-them-yourself petting Zoo, which is a perennial favorite of kids. Rutiz Farm is a well kept local "secret" Farm stand & CSA.
Most months of the year, there is no need to waste time, nor money, for non-local "mystery" products at Whole Paycheck market, when you are in-the-know about the plethora of choices in our area.
Happy Hunting!
