Hayward Farmers Market: A year-round bread basket

The Hayward Farmers Market is open year-round, rain or shine, every Saturday from 9am to 1pm. Photo courtesy of Agricultural Institute of Marin.

Fall is here — and the year-round farmers markets are gearing up to provide local, organic fall produce for the Bay Area.

Downtown Hayward has a market on Watkins Street, stretching from B Street to C Street, directly across from the Hayward BART Station, past city hall. Every Saturday, from 9am to 1pm, you can enjoy the “family atmosphere,” says Adam Murphy, assistant marketing manager for the market.

“Unlike other markets where people just shop and leave, we have more of a community feel, with music and chairs for people to eat and hang out," Murphy says. 

Whether you are exploring the market with the kiddos in tow, or looking to grocery shop for the next week, here are some outstanding fall produce to be on the lookout for: 

Zucchini ($2 per pound)

This variety of squash is serving nutrition for dinner. Be sure to look out for green as well as yellow zucchinis to add some color to your meals! Nestor, a long-time seller to the Hayward market working with his aunt and uncle on their farm, says he recommends adding zucchinis to a stir fry with other veggies salted and peppered on rice. 

Nectarines ($2.50 per pound)

You may be thinking that stone fruits are more of a summer buy, but there are still plenty of them up for grabs in the fall.  long with white nectarines, which are more mild in flavor, the sweet yellow peaches from this market are a solid purchase and a healthy snack.

Helpful tip: A farmer at Rojas Family Farms’ says if the center of the fruit is dark, they are ripe, sweet and ready to eat.  

Other tips

While picking out your produce, be sure to listen to the live music playing at this market every Saturday. The Hayward market also has food vendors, home-made cosmetic products and Joe’s Honey stand. His hives are located in San Leandro and Hayward, so you know you will be getting quality products from Bay Area bees. Joe’s honey combs are a sweet treat the kids will surely love.

Next time you are in the East Bay, consider buying this week’s produce in a friendly downtown marketplace at the Hayward Farmers Market.