Contra Costa County farmers’ markets offer an easy way to shop for seasonal California produce while exploring local downtowns, parks, waterfront communities, and neighborhood gathering places. From the weekday market at Todos Santos Plaza in Concord to weekend markets in Brentwood, Danville, Martinez, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Orinda, and Pinole, shoppers can usually find a market on several days of the week.
The county currently has 19 certified farmers’ markets. A certified market is not simply an outdoor collection of food vendors. California farmers who sell in the certified section must have their agricultural products documented through the appropriate county agricultural commissioner. This system allows shoppers to buy qualifying products directly from certified producers while supporting farms and regional food businesses.
This 2026 guide highlights several useful markets, explains what produce to look for through the seasons, and offers practical tips for parking, budgeting, food safety, and benefit programs. Hours, vendors, and seasonal dates can change, so confirm details before making a special trip. The official Contra Costa County certified farmers’ markets page is the best starting point for current county information.
Where to Find Farmers’ Markets in Contra Costa County
Choose a Market That Fits Your Location and Schedule
The best market is often the one that fits naturally into the rest of your day. Some are positioned in walkable downtown districts where visitors can add breakfast, lunch, shopping, or a park visit. Others operate near civic buildings, medical campuses, neighborhood plazas, or waterfront areas. Consider the market day, opening time, parking situation, transit access, and nearby activities before deciding where to go.
Concord and Brentwood Offer Strong Central and East County Options
The Concord Farmers’ Market operates at 2175 Willow Pass Road in Todos Santos Plaza. Its Tuesday market currently runs from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. throughout the year. A second Thursday market is scheduled from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. during its 2026 seasonal run, making it especially useful for shoppers who cannot attend a morning market.
Todos Santos Plaza gives visitors several ways to extend the trip. Restaurants, cafés, public seating, downtown businesses, and nearby parking make the market convenient for a short lunch visit or a longer community outing. Explore our Concord city guide for additional places to visit before or after shopping.
In eastern Contra Costa County, the Brentwood Farmers’ Market operates at 655 First Street on Saturdays. Its current spring and summer schedule is 8:00 a.m. to noon. An early visit is worthwhile during hot weather because temperatures can rise quickly and popular produce may sell out before closing.
Brentwood is closely connected to the county’s agricultural identity. A market visit can be combined with downtown food stops, nearby farm stands when legally open to visitors, or a drive through eastern county landscapes. Never enter private orchards, fields, or farm roads without permission, even when produce is visible from a public route.
Weekend Markets Make It Easy to Explore Local Downtowns
Saturday shoppers have several options. The Danville Farmers’ Market operates at 205 Railroad Avenue from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. throughout the year. Its location near downtown Danville makes it easy to combine produce shopping with a meal, a walk through the commercial district, or a ride on a nearby section of the Iron Horse Regional Trail.
Our guide to the best bike trails in Contra Costa County can help cyclists plan a market stop as part of a longer outing. Bring a secure lock, use panniers or a stable basket, and avoid carrying delicate fruit in an unprotected backpack.
Pinole also hosts a year-round Saturday market at 798 Fernandez Avenue from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The surrounding historic district and nearby waterfront make it a practical choice for visitors who want a relaxed western Contra Costa outing.
Pleasant Hill’s Saturday market currently runs from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. near City Hall. Orinda’s Saturday market uses the same general hours and operates near Orinda Community Park. These community-centered settings can work particularly well for families because the market visit does not need to be the only activity.
Sunday brings another set of choices. The Walnut Creek Farmers’ Market operates year-round from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Locust Street between Cole and Lacassie streets. Its central location is close to downtown dining, shopping, and public transportation.
The Martinez Farmers’ Market also operates Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at 700 Main Street. Shoppers can continue through historic downtown Martinez or add a waterfront walk afterward. For more ideas nearby, visit our Food and Drink guides and upcoming Martinez city coverage.
Know What Produce to Look for Each Season
Farmers’ market selection changes with harvest timing, weather, growing location, and individual farm conditions. That variation is part of the value of shopping seasonally. Instead of arriving with a rigid list, begin by seeing what looks abundant, ripe, and reasonably priced that week.
Summer Brings Tomatoes, Corn, Stone Fruit and Melons
Summer is one of the most colorful periods at Contra Costa County markets. Shoppers may find peaches, nectarines, plums, apricots, cherries early in the season, tomatoes, sweet corn, peppers, cucumbers, summer squash, berries, melons, herbs, and other warm-weather produce.
Selection does not peak at exactly the same time everywhere. Coastal temperatures, inland heat, farm elevation, crop variety, and weather can move a harvest earlier or later. Ask producers which fruit is ready to eat immediately and which should rest at room temperature for a day or two.
When buying tomatoes, look beyond perfect shape. Heirloom varieties may have uneven shoulders, unusual colors, or delicate skin while still offering excellent flavor. For stone fruit, avoid squeezing every piece. Ask the farmer how to judge ripeness and handle fruit gently to prevent bruising.
Bring an insulated bag if you plan to purchase eggs, dairy products, prepared foods, seafood, or other temperature-sensitive items. Do not leave perishable food in a hot vehicle while continuing your day. Make the market your final stop or carry a cooler with sufficient ice packs.
Fall, Winter and Spring Each Offer Different Reasons to Visit
As summer shifts toward fall, market tables may feature grapes, pears, apples, winter squash, pomegranates, persimmons, nuts, leafy greens, root vegetables, and late-season tomatoes or peppers. Cooler weather also makes it more comfortable to browse slowly and speak with producers.
Winter markets may appear less visually abundant than midsummer, but they can still offer citrus, greens, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, mushrooms, carrots, beets, onions, herbs, eggs, honey, baked goods, and pantry products. Year-round markets allow shoppers to follow California agriculture rather than treating farmers’ markets as a summer-only activity.
Spring introduces strawberries, asparagus, peas, tender greens, artichokes, herbs, early cherries, and the beginning of stone-fruit season. Availability varies, so use these examples as a guide rather than a guarantee.
Ask simple questions when you are unfamiliar with an ingredient: How should it be stored? How long will it last? Can it be eaten raw? What is the easiest way to prepare it? Farmers and vendors often provide more useful advice than a generic recipe because they understand the specific variety they are selling.
How to Shop Smarter and Build a Local Day Trip
Plan Your Budget, Transportation and Market Routine
Arriving near opening time usually provides the widest selection and cooler temperatures. Arriving later may mean smaller crowds at some markets, but high-demand fruit, specialty items, and baked goods could be gone. There is no universal best time, so decide whether selection, atmosphere, or convenience matters most.
Bring reusable bags with flat bottoms so produce does not roll or become crushed. A small insulated tote is useful for perishable purchases. Carry some cash in smaller denominations even when many vendors accept cards or digital payments. Payment systems can fail, and individual vendor policies differ.
Walk through the market once before making every purchase. Comparing varieties, ripeness, quantities, and prices can prevent impulse buying. However, do not expect every farmer to charge the same amount. Differences may reflect variety, farming practices, distance, crop yield, labor, certification, or product quality.
Buy realistic quantities. A discounted box of ripe peaches is only a bargain if you can eat, freeze, preserve, bake, or share them before they spoil. Plan two or three flexible meals around what you purchase rather than trying to force market ingredients into an unrelated weekly menu.
Several markets may participate in CalFresh, WIC, Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program, or produce-incentive programs. Participation can vary by market and vendor. In 2026, eligible Senior and WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program cardholders may also find participating markets offering an additional produce bonus. Visit the information booth first and ask which benefits are accepted, how tokens or vouchers work, and which vendors can redeem them.
Respect market etiquette. Do not handle fragile produce unnecessarily, block walkways, place bags on vendor displays, or allow children and pets to interfere with food tables. Ask before photographing vendors closely. Service-animal and pet policies may vary by location, especially where prepared food is served.
A market visit can become the starting point for a broader Contra Costa County day. Pair Walnut Creek or Danville with a bike ride, Martinez with historic downtown and the waterfront, Concord with Todos Santos Plaza, or Richmond with shoreline history using our Richmond ferry waterfront day-trip guide.
The strongest farmers’ market trip is simple: confirm the schedule, arrive prepared, remain flexible about seasonal selection, speak with producers, protect perishable food, and explore the surrounding community. Whether you are buying one basket of berries or planning a full week of meals, Contra Costa County’s markets offer a direct connection to California agriculture and the cities that gather around it.