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.

Summer is almost here — and the year-round farmers markets are gearing up to provide local, organic summer 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, over 35 farmers, food purveyors, and artisans sell locally grown and organic produce, local seafood, pastured eggs, cheese, nuts, honey, breads and baked goods, plants and fresh-cut flowers, pre-packed and hot foods, artisanal crafts and jewelry.

Editor's Note: Please wear a mask and keep a physical distance of at least six feet while riding the trains or at an in-person event. Before you travel on BART, use our Trip Planner to get estimated arrival and departure times. See BART's 15-step plan to safely welcome back riders here.

The market has a community feel, with music and chairs for people to eat and hang out.

Whether you are exploring the market with the kiddos in tow, or looking to grocery shop for the next week, you'll be sure to find some outstanding offerings at the Hayward Farmers Market.

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.  

A long-time staple of the market, Joe’s Honey stand sells local raw honey. Joe's hives are in San Leandro and Hayward, so you know you will be getting quality products from Bay Area bees. Joe’s honeycombs 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.

Let's talk food.

What's your favorite thing to get from the farmers market? Let us know via social media, @SFBARTable #SFBARTable! Keep up with us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to see all of the best BARTable (virtual) events, places to eat (grab take out from) and have fun (outside) around the Bay.