To-may-to or to-mah-to, San Joaquin County earns high scores when it comes to California commodities and promoting healthy eating through local farm stands and farmers markets. We’re #1 according to the California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA) in berries, blueberries, apples, asparagus (no surprises there), watermelon, English walnuts, and cherries. And in the Top 5 – San Joaquin is holding strong with fresh tomatoes, potatoes, olives and sweet corn. Okay, enough with the mind-numbing stats, but just in case it comes up in conversation...you’ll be prepared.
Year-round and seasonally, a variety of local farmers markets serve Stockton and the region. Stockton’s Asian Farmer’s Market (circa 1979) is considered one of the best according to Saveur magazine. They included it in their 2007 list of Top 100 Places – pretty high praise if you don’t already know! Years later, the market continues to draw thousands of consumers every Saturday beginning at 
5:30am – these shoppers are serious. It’s not the latest marketing frenzy of Farm-to-Fork (F2F) that lures them. It’s the history of Stockton’s Asian community which began arriving during the Gold Rush and continued to grow bringing a wealth of culture and goods to the Stockton and, eventually, the markets and heart of San Joaquin County.
Downtown Farmers Market - Stockton Certified Farmers Market Association. Open year-round every Saturday - 5:30 am until 11:00am (or sold out). Under the cross-town freeway between El Dorado and San Joaquin streets across from St. Mary's Church.
PS – It’s freeway close; no pun intended!
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