FAIRFIELD — Why get your dinner out of a can when there are so many farmers markets and produce stands to get healthy, fresh produce?
Solano County and the surrounding areas shows off their agricultural bounty with a healthy crop of farmers markets from Dixon to Vallejo that offer a wide selection of the county’s produce – from peaches to tomatoes to, uh, kettle corn.
Some are available year-round while others open in the spring and wrap up their seasons in the fall.
The freshness and variety of what farmers markets can offer just can not be beat.
“I love tasting the peach samples before deciding what I will buy,” said Jackson Williams, a frequent shopper at the Vacaville Farmers Market. “I also make the trek to (Sievers Road) for their produce and locally baked pies.”
Bonnie Saunders, of Dixon, who shops at Pedrick Produce, said the local produce she buys makes her meals much tastier, from her soups to cobblers.
“We are lucky to live here with the long-growing seasons and healthy number of farms and orchards,” Saunders said.
The local markets are:
- Fairfield Farmers Market and Thursdays on the Green: 3 p.m. Thursdays, through Oct. 3. Info: www.fairfieldmainstreet.com.
- 3rd Thursday Night Market: 5 to 8:30 p.m., through September. CreekWalk Plaza, Andrews Park, Vacaville. Info:www.downtownvacaville.com.
- Kaiser Permanente Vacaville Farmers Market: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays, year-round. 1 Quality Drive. Info: healthy.kaiserpermanente.org.
- Vacaville Farmers Market: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays, May through late October. Andrews Park Creekwalk. Info.: www.visitvacaville.com.
- Rio Vista Farmers Market: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays, May through early October. Main Street from Second Street to Third Street. Info: www.delta.ca.gov/calendar/rio-vista-farmers-market.
- Kaiser Permanente Vallejo Farmers Market: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays, year-round. 975 Sereno Drive. Info.: www.pcfma.corg.
- Vallejo Farmers Market: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays, year-round. 400 block of Georgia Street. Info.: www.pcfma.org.
- Benicia’s Certified Farmers Market: 4 to 8 p.m. Thursdays through Oct. 26. First Street between B and D streets. Info.: www.beniciamainstreet.org.
The local produce stands include:
- Cal Yee Farms: 5158 Clayton Road, Fairfield. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday to Sunday, year-round. 1-800-225-9337. Info: www.calyeefarm.com.
- Castaneda Brothers Produce: 211 Fruitvale Road, Vacaville. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday to Sunday, July through November. 707-495-6944. Info: www.facebook.com/castanedabros/
- Dixon Fruit Market: 7808 Batavia Road. 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday to Sunday, year-round. 707-678-4211. Info: www.dixonfruit.com.
- Larry’s Produce: 4606 Suisun Valley Road, Fairfield. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, beginning in June. Info: www.larrysproduce.com.
- Olive Tree Farm and Market: 7335 Oday Road, Vacaville. 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. during summer months. Info: 707-678-5550.
- Pedrick Produce: 6850 Sievers Road, Dixon. 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, year-round. Info: 707-768-1814.
- Robledo Produce: 4300 Russell Road, Fairfield. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, May to October.
- Saechao Family Farm: 2707 Rockville Road, Suisun Valley. 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, through fall. Info: 707-422-6357.
- Shooting Star Organic Farm: 5082 Gordon Valley Road, Fairfield. 207-0548, [email protected]. Info: www.shootingstarorganicfarm.com.
- Vacaville Fruit Co. Inc.: 2055 Cessna Drive, Suite 200. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. 707-448-5292. Info: www.vacavillefruit.com.
