One of the best shows in Santa Rosa, which happens every Saturday morning year-round (and Wednesday mornings, too), is the Farmers Market at the Veterans Building near the Sonoma County Fairgrounds. Sure, there are plenty of vegetables and fruits, and this time of year the color red seems to dominate (tomatoes, peppers, peaches, you name it). But there are also artisanal cheeses; breads of all sizes and types; jams and jellies; organic coffee brewed to order; a farmstand devoted entirely to fungus, with culinary mushrooms of every shape and flavor; a huge assortment of seafood and meats; bucket after bucket of fresh flowers; pottery, jewelry, and other handcrafted art; live, upbeat music; and food vendors (try the wild baby octopus souvlaki by Bobby the Greek, if you're up to it before noon). The Market is a wonderful way to help support our local farmers, and their just-picked veggies and fruits sure beat the heck out of the bland not-so-fresh stuff offered at the corporate supermarkets.
Locals know all about this market, but visitors and vacationers to the area should check it out, too. Start your day at the market before heading out for sightseeing and wine-sipping. It's a people-watching and people-meeting bonanza, and there's plenty of free parking as well. Bring along at least one sturdy shopping bag –– you'll be glad you did.
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