Buying Guide: What to Buy at California Farmers Markets in August
August is one of the most rewarding months to visit a California farmers market.
The state is in the heart of harvest season. Produce that has spent months developing flavor under the California sun finally reaches its peak. Tomatoes become sweeter, peaches become juicier, and market stalls overflow with fruits and vegetables that rarely taste as good in grocery stores.
If you're visiting a farmers market in August, don't arrive with a strict shopping list. Instead, focus on the products that are truly at their seasonal best. These are the items that local chefs, longtime market shoppers, and farmers themselves look forward to every year.
Here's what to buy—and where to find the best examples.
1. Stone Fruit
What Is Stone Fruit?
Stone fruit refers to fruits with a large pit or "stone" in the center, including:
- Peaches
- Nectarines
- Plums
- Apricots
- Pluots
- Pluerries
August is often considered the peak month for many California stone fruits, especially varieties grown in the Central Valley and Brentwood regions.
What to Look For
The best stone fruit should:
- Feel heavy for its size
- Have a strong aroma
- Yield slightly when gently pressed
- Show natural color variation
Avoid fruit selected purely for appearance. Many of the most flavorful varieties have blemishes, uneven coloring, or unusual shapes.
Best Markets for Stone Fruit
Ferry Plaza Farmers Market
📍 One Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA 94111
🗓 Saturday, Tuesday & Thursday
One of the best places in Northern California to compare multiple stone fruit growers side by side.
Recommended Vendors:
- Frog Hollow Farm
- Masumoto Family Farm
- Blossom Bluff Orchards
Downtown Berkeley Farmers Market
📍 1947 Center St, Berkeley, CA 94704
🗓 Saturday
Known for exceptional organic fruit growers and heirloom varieties.
Recommended Vendors:
- Frog Hollow Farm
- Kaki Farm
- Woodleaf Farm
Santa Monica Downtown Farmers Market
📍 Arizona Ave & 2nd St, Santa Monica, CA 90401
🗓 Wednesday & Saturday
Widely regarded as one of California's premier markets for chefs.
Recommended Vendors:
- Murray Family Farms
- Tenerelli Orchards
- Family Tree Farms
2. Heirloom Tomatoes
If August has a signature product, it's heirloom tomatoes.
Unlike commercial supermarket tomatoes bred for shipping and shelf life, heirlooms are grown for flavor. Expect unusual shapes, deep colors, and varieties ranging from sweet and fruity to rich and smoky.
Popular Varieties
- Brandywine
- Cherokee Purple
- Green Zebra
- Black Krim
- Mortgage Lifter
- Pineapple Tomato
What Makes Them Special?
Heirloom tomatoes are often harvested ripe and sold within days. Their delicate skins and irregular appearance make them difficult for large-scale retail distribution, which is why farmers markets remain the best place to buy them.
Best Markets for Heirloom Tomatoes
Ferry Plaza Farmers Market
📍 One Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA 94111
The Bay Area's benchmark market for tomato season.
Recommended Farms:
- Dirty Girl Produce
- Riverdog Farm
- Full Belly Farm
Grand Lake Farmers Market
📍 746 Grand Ave, Oakland, CA 94610
🗓 Saturday
A favorite among East Bay home cooks and chefs.
Recommended Farms:
- Riverdog Farm
- Full Belly Farm
- Catalan Family Farm
Hollywood Farmers Market
📍 1600 Ivar Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028
🗓 Sunday
One of Southern California's most impressive tomato markets during peak season.
Recommended Farms:
- Tamai Family Farms
- Coleman Family Farms
- Windrose Farm
3. Dry-Farmed Tomatoes
If you're only buying one thing in August, make it dry-farmed tomatoes.
Many California food enthusiasts consider them the finest tomatoes available anywhere.
What Are Dry-Farmed Tomatoes?
Unlike conventional tomatoes, dry-farmed tomatoes receive little or no irrigation after establishment.
The vines are forced to send roots deep into the soil in search of water. The result is:
- More concentrated flavor
- Lower water content
- Higher natural sweetness
- Richer texture
They're often smaller than supermarket tomatoes but dramatically more flavorful.
How Do They Taste?
Imagine the flavor of a regular tomato condensed into a much richer, sweeter, more intense version.
That's why many Bay Area chefs specifically seek out dry-farmed tomatoes every summer.
Best Markets for Dry-Farmed Tomatoes
Ferry Plaza Farmers Market
📍 One Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA 94111
Perhaps the most famous destination for dry-farmed tomatoes in California.
Look For:
- Dirty Girl Produce
Their dry-farmed Early Girl tomatoes have achieved near-legendary status among Bay Area food lovers.
Alemany Farmers Market
📍 100 Alemany Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94110
🗓 Saturday
One of California's oldest farmers markets and a strong source for local tomato growers.
Recommended Farms:
- Dirty Girl Produce
- Local seasonal growers
Santa Monica Downtown Farmers Market
📍 Arizona Ave & 2nd St, Santa Monica, CA 90401
A favorite destination for chefs searching for exceptional tomato varieties.
Recommended Farms:
- Coleman Family Farms
- Tamai Family Farms
Bonus August Finds
While stone fruit and tomatoes steal the spotlight, don't leave the market without checking for:
Melons
Look for:
- Cantaloupe
- Charentais Melon
- Watermelon
- Honeydew
Sweet Corn
Peak flavor arrives in late summer.
Peppers
- Jimmy Nardello
- Padrón
- Shishito
- Sweet Italian
Basil
Perfect for pairing with heirloom tomatoes.
Fresh Flowers
August is one of the most colorful months for market bouquets.
What We'd Buy With $50
If we had $50 and one August market trip, we'd leave with:
- 2 lbs heirloom tomatoes
- 2 lbs dry-farmed tomatoes
- A mixed bag of peaches and nectarines
- A melon
- Fresh basil
- A loaf of artisan bread
That's everything needed for a classic California summer meal.
Final Thoughts
August is the month when California farmers markets truly shine. Whether you're shopping for sun-ripened peaches, colorful heirloom tomatoes, or the legendary dry-farmed Early Girls that have become a Bay Area obsession, this is the season to buy produce at its absolute peak.
Skip the grocery store when you can. The best flavors of California are waiting at the farmers market.