Riverside is home to multiple farmers markets, each offering a variety of organic products and home-grown goods sourced directly from local farmers.
Various goods such as fruit, vegetables, flowers, bread, meat and more can be found at almost any local farmers market.
Located in the parking lot of Barnes and Noble at the Galleria at Tyler, a farmers market is open every Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
This market provides an array of ven- dors selling products ranging from fresh produce to handmade jewelry.
Scott Enoch, market vendor, said he has been selling homemade peanut butter and jelly at the Galleria at Tyler farmers market every Sunday for the past three years.
“It’s something fun you can do on your own. It’s so much healthier too, because there are no preservatives involved,” Enoch said.
With more people looking for healthier options, farmers markets are becoming a popular attraction.
On Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Downtown Riverside also hosts a farmers market on Main Street between Fifth and Sixth streets.
Featured products at this location include homemade bread, nuts, hummus and locally raised eggs.
Many businesses are family-owned and rely on these farmers markets to interact with consumers.
Jenny Flack, market vendor and second-generation farmer, sells cold-packed homemade honey at the Galleria at Tyler and Downtown Riverside farmers markets, with several flavors ranging from avocado to orange blossom.
Flack said Bare Bees Honey has been in her family for generations and she has no- ticed an increase in people visiting farmers markets every year.
“We get more and more people coming here looking for healthier solutions than what industrialized food can provide,” Flack said.
Marissa Nunez, sophomore business administration major, said she enjoys going to farmers markets when she has free time on the weekends.
“I always find unique things — stu I can’t find anywhere else,” Nunez said. “It’s a really cool atmosphere to be in and most products are pretty reasonably priced.”
Also located downtown, the Riverside certified farmers market is open Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at 4080 Lemon St.
At the Riverside certified farmers market, visitors can expect to find vendors selling flowers, produce, plants, cheese and more.
Every Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., another small farmers market is held at Kaiser Permanente between the medical center and urgent care buildings at 10800 Magnolia Ave.
Farmers markets can serve as good shopping alternatives when searching for organic or healthier food options. They also support local farmers.
Students looking to try something different can visit such farmers markets and browse a selection of vendors offering handmade products and locally grown goods, including fresh produce, flowers, specialty foods and more.
These four farmers markets run year-round and are all conveniently located within 5.5 miles of campus.
