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.
