Venice Farmers Market has more than 40 vendors on Saturdays, many based during the week in Venice, Englewood and other areas of Sarasota County.
The market’s mission is to promote local Florida growers and agriculturally related products, with a focus on four core values: nutritional health, education, sustainability and sense of community.
They sell nuts (A Little Nuts) and more nuts (Bliss Nutbutters) and soap. They sell handmade clay and cement art (Ask Cynthia Harper; she’ll explain). They sharpen knives.
They sell ethnic food, bread and more. They sell fine art and wearable art (clothing, Hats of Madagascar and sandals.) They even sell handmade alpaca products.
They sell herbs to Herbs, and Helens, too. They sell micro-greens and mixes. They have hemp oil and essential oils. Pick up meat and prepared foods at Butcher’s Gourmet.
Maggie’s sells seafood and Maw Maw’s sells chicken pies. Find a garden sculpture to decorate your yard.
Family farms are featured, including Fresh Harvest (Maria Gammad of Arcadia). Fredes Fletes of North Port offers fresh, baked sweet and corn breads. You will find French bakery items, including tarts, and prepared Mexican and Italian food, including pizza. Towels from Tunisia also are available.
Fine jewelry, too.
Treats are available for pets and humans alike. They sell fresh, local, regional and organic produce, seafood, dairy products, plants, honey, syrups, sauces, salsa and more.
The market also sells gourmet bagels, German bagels and Happy Flowers.
Want to make your own sandwiches? Try some artisan small batch dairy cheeses from Wisconsin (a rare item not “grown” locally) and gourmet pickles and olives.
Top it off with fresh roasted organic coffee.
Partners include the city of Venice, Friends of Sarasota County Parks and Fresh Access Bucks, an initiative of Feeding Florida (a VFM sponsor). Another VFM sponsor is the Florida Food Assistance Program.
If Saturday is inconvenient or Venice is out of your way, try the Englewood Farmers Market. It’s open Thursdays, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Old Englewood Village, in the 300 block of West Dearborn Street.

Effective this Saturday, July 18, face coverings will be required for those visiting the Venice Farmers Market at City Hall.

If customers do not have a face covering, cloth masks will be provided for them by the Market, while supplies last.

Market staff and vendors have gone to great lengths to create a CDC compliant and safe socially distanced outdoor shopping experience for our community. Please follow the posted signage. The Market reopened on July 11, with all staff and vendors wearing masks and gloves and sanitizing stations available. Their plan has been approved by the City of Venice in order to comply with all federal, state and local guidelines for food and personal safety. Please visit the Market website, www.thevenicefarmersmarket.org, and select the FAQ tab to read about the new operating guidelines.

The Market’s summer vendors are offering amazing produce, fresh baked goods including breads, pies, bagels and pretzels, wild caught seafood, Florida grown mushrooms, boutique cheeses, locally roasted coffee, kettle corn, hand crafted soap, essential oils, nursery plants, and fresh cut flowers. In addition, your favorite local artists will be attending the market offering award-winning photography, unique clay art and jewelry, hand designed clothing for children and adults, and much more.

During the construction of the new Fire Station 1 and expansion of Venice City Hall, the Farmers Market has relocated out of the parking lot but is still operating at City Hall. The Market will set up on W. Venice Avenue between Harbor Drive and Avenue des Parques, located between City Hall and the Hecksher Park tennis courts. Summer hours are from 8 a.m. to noon. Please, only service animals will be allowed during current COVID-19 rules.

For more information, go to the Market website at www.thevenicefarmersmarket.org or visit them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/venicefarmersmarketflorida. Contact Farmers Market Manager Lee Perron via email at info@thevenicefarmersmarket.org or call 941-445-9209.