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The Punta Gorda Farmers Market is
open every Saturday from 8 a.m. until 1
p.m. October through April. In the
months of May through September, it is
open from 8 a.m. to noon.
The market is located on Taylor Street in
front of the historical Charlotte County Courthouse.
Voted the “The 15th Best Small Market”
in the United States, nearly 60 vendors attend
the market weekly, offering fruits and
vegetables, dried fruits and nuts, fresh bakery
items, fresh homemade pasta, kitchenware,
cupcakes, beef and seafood, fresh citrus, jewelry,
candles and soaps, Florida arts & crafts, cheese,
French bakery, baguettes and olives, homemade
pies, orchids, organic produce, kettle corn,
coffee beans and drinks, native and exotic
plants. There is also live music from 9 a.m. until
noon.
The Sarasota Farmers Market is arguably one
of the largest in Southwest Florida. The
market is located at 1 N. Lemon Ave. in
downtown Sarasota.
Early risers will enjoy this event, as the market
opens at 7 a.m. and runs through 1 p.m. every
Saturday.
This is another year-round market that began in
1979 and has expanded to about 80 vendors with
an average of 10,000 visitors each week. More than
15,000 visitors have been reported in peak season,
according to Market Manager Phil Pagano. The
market contributes $56 million to the local economy,
according to an economic study done last year. At
the market your will find local produce, seafood,
artisans, prepared foods, live music, a kids’ area, free
space for nonprofits and more. Market guests can
also take in nearby art galleries.
As visitors stroll down Lemon Avenue, Frank
Sinatra-themed music fills the air, and you may even
catch a local playing piano outside a music store, or
a Spanish guitar duo energetically performing.
Paul Thorpe and the Downtown Merchants
Association founded the market in 1979, and it
became a nonprofit in 2009. The mission was to
enhance the market, focus on local farms and
support nonprofits in the area.
January/February 2019 GASPARILLA ISLAND 35