Looking for fresh produce in Ventura County? Lettuce help you. This may sound corny, but I suspect you will find this handy list of farmers' markets to be quite peachy. Over the years, the number of such markets has mushroomed in Ventura County and it beets me how one could pass up the opportunity to shop at them! So squash those fast food thoughts, step on your acceleryator and find a grape deal at a local Ventura County farmers' market!
(Times/Dates/Places of course subject to change. Let me know of any updates or changes!)
NOTE: These are in "day of the week" order.
VENTURA: Wednesdays 8 am to 1 pm at Pacific View Mall in Ventura in the community plaza in front of Red Robin. Call 805.529.6266.
OXNARD: Thursdays 9 am to 1 pm at Plaza Park in Oxnard (5th and C Streets). Call 805.483.7960.
THOUSAND OAKS: Thursdays 1:30 pm to 6:30 pm at the Oaks Shopping Center east parking lot. Produce, flowers, food and more!
SIMI VALLEY: Fridays 3 pm to 8 pm at Simi Valley Town Center: 1/15/10 to 11/19/10 Fresh produce and baked goods, kid-friendly attractions, entertainment and more. Held in the mall’s parking lot across from Larsen's Grill.
MOORPARK: Fridays 3 pm to 8 pm in Moorpark Miller Parkway and Los Angeles Avenue (Village at Moorpark Shopping Center)
VENTURA: Saturdays 8:30 am to noon at corner of Palm and Santa Clara Streets. Member of Ventura County Certified Farmers' Market Association. Call 805.529.6266.
NEWBURY PARK: Saturdays 8 am to 2 pm at Loehmann's Plaza parking lot (Teller Road and Hillcrest Drive)
CAMARILLO: Saturdays 8 am to noon 2220 Ventura Boulevard in the County of Ventura Senior Nutrition Center parking lot. Proceeds benefit Camarillo Hospice. Call 805.386.3584.
MOORPARK: Saturdays 8 am to 1 pm at Moorpark College parking lot G1 near gym (Seasonal Market). Call 805.529.6266 for information (and to make sure they're open).
CALABASAS: Saturdays 8 am to 1 pm in Old Town Calabasas on Calabasas Road west of El Canon Avenue (across from Sagebrush Cantina). Call 818.591.8161. You'll find produce, flowers, wines and other foods at this farmers market.
OAK PARK: Saturdays 9 am to 1 pm in Oak Park at Oak Park High School, 899 North Kanan Road. Call 805.643.6458 for more information. Also visit www.oakparknow.com/Oak_Park_Farmers__Market.html.
WESTLAKE VILLAGE: Sundays 9 am to 2 pm at 2797 Agoura Road (Village Glen). Year round market. Call 818.591.8286.
OJAI: Sundays 9 am to 1 pm at 300 E. Matilija Street year-round, rain or shine. Produce, flowers and gourmet food for nearly 2 decades. Call 805.698.5555.
OXNARD/CHANNEL ISLANDS: Sundays 10 am to 2 pm at 2805 South Harbor Boulevard year-round. Call 805.643.6458.
AGOURA HILLS: Sundays 9 am to 2 pm in Agoura Hills at 5835 Kanan Road (Agoura's Famous Deli parking lot) www.ccfm.com/site/locations.php
MALIBU: Sundays 10 am to 3 pm at Malibu Civic Center, 23519 Civic Center Way. www.malibufarmersmarket.net
OTHER FRESH PRODUCE OPTIONS:
Underwood Family Farms Market in Moorpark (3370 Sunset Valley Road) has farm fresh fruits and vegetables as well as pickled produce, honey, nuts, juices, dried beans, farm fresh eggs and fresh cut flowers. Moorpark location is usually closed from late December through February. Open 9am to 6pm March to November (5pm after DST). Call 805.529.3690.
Underwood Family Farms Market in Somis (5696 E. Los Angeles Avenue) is open every day year-round 9am to 6pm (5pm after DST) with the exception of some holidays. Call 805.386.4660.
McGrath Family Farm in Camarillo (505 North Wood Road) is open Mid-March through December 9am to pm and offers organic fruits, flowers and vegetables. Freeway convenient off the Central Avenue offramp of the 101. Call 805.983.0333.
Sprouts Farmers Market (600 W. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks) is at the corner of Lynn/Hillcrest adjacent to the Oaks Mall. Opened on 5/12/10. This is a grocery store that focuses on selling local farm fresh produce as well as a full range of other natural grocery items as well as a deli, baked goods, etc. Hours 7am to 10pm. Call 805.716.4373.
Whole Foods Market (740 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks) of course is another provider of natural foods, organic fresh produce, full grocery, prepared foods, etc. Call 805.777.4730. Open 8am to 10pm 7 days a week.
Farmers' Market Websites:
Farm Bureau of Ventura County: www.farmbureauvc.com/consumers.html
California-Grown Certified Farmers Markets: www.cafarmersmarkets.com
Ventura County Certified Farmers Markets: www.vccfarmersmarkets.com
Coastal Pacific Farmers Markets: http://coastalpacificfm.com
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There's nothing better than attending a live local performance in an outdoor venue with the family. Summarized below are concerts by location/venue, most of them FREE. 
