Reviews for: Grand Lake Farmers Market

It has everything, I mean EVERYTHING! Amazing music great vibe, awsome vendors, lots of families and babies and beautiful pregnant ladies all over the place. The most beautiful crafts and artizinal goods, and even vegan soul foo for crying out loud! It's THE BEST! And even the market manager, Yank is great. He halped me breack into my car after I locked my keys in it one time... he is always with a smile, just like everyone else there. It's a great, great market...and so down to earth and reasonably priced!

I love sitting on the grassy hill overlooking the market in the sun watching people go by.

I support my local Farmers Market becasue everything is fresh and it helps our town - and we can see friends and neighbors out enjoying them self

Because it's fun, the food offerings are amazing and there's little kids playing in the fountain and rockin' good music. Best show and shopping in town!

This market is wonderful. The vendors are great, the location is incredible. It's great that Oakland has laid the groundwork to support such a wonderful asset to our community.

We support the Grand Lake Market because we walkt to it. Because we see the neighborhood come to life those Saturdays. Becasue we like to talk to farmers, as well as potters and soap makers. Becasue our local farmers market is our best farmers market!

wonderful food, great diverse people, great location (close to my home) and music! I love this market and go to it every Saturday.

It has lots of variety: good organic produce, crafts, music. The farmers are friendly and fun to talk to.

More than half of the growers are organic, meaning they are supporting a healthier lifestyle, less pesticides, less pollution, and cleaner air and water. I've gotten to know many of the vendors, and love when they can introduce me to new vegetables and varieties - burdock for soups, fresh paw paws, white figs, dandelion greens, mache', etc. Plus, I can get extra-tasty free-range eggs, grass-fed beef with a better balance of healthy fats, and locally-caught fish. Going here makes me want to cook up a feast!

Great location! Great organic veggies and berries, great vegan soul food vendor for lunch! and much much more. And the people who gather each Saturday makes it very festive and makes one proud of Oakland.

I like to eat locally grown seasonal food. The quality is great and I find that the produce tastes better and lasts longer than the supermarket varieties. I also like the prepared foods and local crafts. I always find someone to chat with and I love to see the young children learning about healthy food.

I am so lucky to have the Grand Lake Farmers Market in my backyard. It is open Saturdays year-round from 9am-2pm -- only the craziest torrential rain will shut it down. Locals and folks from the extended hood enjoy an assortment of the freshest and most reasonably priced produce, most of which is organic. And it just feels good to have a direct connection to the farmers and good producers of the products you are consuming. Going to the farmers market regularly also has made me more concious of what fruits and veggies are in season locally. There is also an awesome prepared food area where you can grab lunch or get some great baked goods. And as the weather gets warmer and sunnier, the selection of vendors increases and branches out to include jewelry, soaps, apparel, and other gift sellers. Some of my favorites vendors include: --Both awesome avocado stands (have never had better avocados than either of these) --October Feast Breads (Bavarian style whole grain goodness and pretzel croissants) --Delicieux Bakery (strawberry rhubarb tart, pecan squares, and lemon meringues and more to make you quiver in your boots) --Big Paw (olive oils and vinegars -- mission fig balsamic rocks my world) --the cheese (she got me hooked on lemon quark -- so yummy with strawberries and then they brought vanilla bean quark into the mix as well -- totally tastes like heaven) --Prather Ranch (organic and sustainably farmed lamb, beef, and buffalo -- the boneless leg of lamb steaks are perfect for the barbecue) --Rodriguez Family Farm (I love their organic strawberries) --the egg tent (best eggs and best prices around) This farmers market is one of the many reasons that I love Oakland.

The diversity and joyful, playful spirit of Grand Lakes Farmers Market, the food and the produce is the best. A really fun Saturday destination.

Great year round variety o fresh food and vegetables. Also a great community gathering place. Plus, I like the occasional craft work stands, such as pottery.

it is walking distance from many residences, offers great food and helps build a sense of community in the heart of Oakland

Grand Lake Farmers Market has everything you need with a great feeling of community.

This market has a great layout thanks to the Splash Pad renovation. There is thriving community participation in the market, and many of the farmers and workers are active in the community beyond the Farmer's Market. The market also is a venue for smaller local businesses. I feel the market brings value and truly strengthens the Oakland community.

Excellent organic produce and humane, organic and sustainable eggs, meat, fish, poultry, and cheese.

My sisters and I shop there 2 to 3 times a mouth. Good buys! We also like the fact that we get to talk to the people that grow what we eat. We love the snacks,the music and the flowers.

relaxed, friendly, lot of local food choices, mellow "vibe", families abundant.

Wonderful organic produce and other sustainable products and crafts and snacks and music--the best of our community once a week!

Prather Ranch Beeeeeeef! ("I'd rather have Prather!") Mmmmmm....

The food is FRESH and LOCAL, the vendors are personable and honest, the market is a reflection of our community. It's diverse and alive and getting better every year!

The produce is wonderful, its easy to get to and the sellers have great ideas for what to do with the food in case you needed a new recipe. I love going there!

I have farmer friends there and have seen what the FM has brought to the neighborhood (I lived in the neighborhood for ten years). Splash Pad Park and the music also add to the festive nature!

The only Farmers Market that is a true place of destination. The best heirloom tomatoes to be found are at the Grand Laker Farmers Market. Roam the stands among the most diverse community in CA.

Like Goldilocks, I've seen farmers' market that are too big and too small. Grand Lake Farmers market is just right. I love the many vendors with organic produce, the yummy prepared foods available, the music, and more. My husband always calls it "the fair." People (vendors & customers) are friendly and clearly happy!

Great fun farmers market. Wonderful for kids of all ages. The GrandLake Market is wonderfully supportive of the local community especially local public school. Thank you GrandLake Farmer's Market.

Best mix of farm fresh food, non-food vendors, and prepared food, wide price range and excellent quality. The Grand Lake Farmer's Market is an anchor in the resurging vitality of this Oakland neighborhood. It's a Saturday destination - much of it by pedestrians.

I love going there and they are very supportive of school groups who want a venue to play music

The food there is always top quality and the farmers know how to teach the public about the best possible ways to tell the best..and most important how to be more responsible for our planet..

this farmers market really feels like the heart of the community. affordable produce abounds, beautiful to look at, delicious. vendors are friendly. A place I go on Saturdays where it seems like everyone is happy, celebrating good things to eat,

Grand Lake is full of great food, great people, and great music. It is a wonderful place that's helping Oakland foster healthy people and communities.

The market is in a great location, has a wonderfully ecclectic atmosphere and vendors.

This farmer's market is huge, centrally located, child/family friendly and has wonderful organic, affordable produce as well as other locally produced products.

The Grand Lake Farmers Market is awesome because they've got loads of great produce, meets, cheeses, flowers, artisans, crafty things, music, pony rides, and just FUN. Great walkable location for many and there's tons of local shops and restaurants (and the Grand Lake Theater) right around the corner. Great way to make a day of supporting local farmers and local business! http://www.yelp.com/biz/grand-lake-farmers-market-oakland

It has lots of great food, including a good amount of organic produce. In addition, it has vendors of delicious prepared food of many cuisines. And it's such an URBAN market--Musicians play music of many genres, the freeway is roaring nearby, many shoppers first find it because they happen to be walking by. Splash Pad Park has a fountain that draws the youngest to it like magic, and the kids splash around in the water while their parents relax and listen to the music, and snack on the great food.

Great organic selection of food. Great music, great diverse vibes. Good use of formerly unusable land.

Four words...Pug's Leap Goat Cheese! Well really there are a few more...Capay Valley Farms, Fabric Delice & Roli Roti...need my chicken, beets, greens and sausage to eat with my fabulous goat cheese right?

Such a great market! Rain or shine this market is the place to be on Saturday mornings. Lots of Oaklandish love happening here. Be sure to check out the Capay Valley Farms and Blossom Bluff Orchards.

What a dream - to have fresh from the farm produce available just down the street!

Fabulous food, people and music. Community coming together for a few hours sandwiched between the freeway on + off ramps. How fabulous to have the farms come to us!!

Year-round gorgeous produce, much of it organic; beautiful handcrafts; superb meat, dairy, and eggs; all in a lovely park setting. My favorite place in the world to be on a Saturday morning.

A wonderful local market, has everything from oils, veggies, fruits, meat, good eggs. Lots of local prepared food. Great entertainment every week. Very thriving and busy market in a small space.

Great variety of gorgeous produce and esp. hot lunch food from tamales to roasted meats to sweet potato pie, live blues and jazz music featuring local musicians and schools, people of every color from 2 to 80 sitting in the grass eating and enjoying the sunshine. Small but mighty!

good mix of people, revitalized area, best food around, music and "extras" and goes into the colder season.

The lake, the people, the produce...why wouldn't I support this amazing Farmer's Market!

Venue showcasing the brilliant diversity of the area. Delicious fresh produce and local independent food makers selling their goods at affordable prices. All in a great location at the edge of Lake Merritt.

I love the mix of people there, the wonderful and affordable produce, the kids splashing in the water fountain, the tables full of families eating chicken right off the rotisserie and handfuls of juicy strawberries. It's a great way to start a weekend morning.

Great unifying site that draws from many neighborhoods. People can buy good food at reasonable prices, listen to music, learn about the community, and look at hand-made art

Great community spirit. It's so nice to feel a part of a neighborhood event each week.

The produce is good quality ...tasty..and lots of choices of vendors to purchase from...it's a destination with the samples of food to taste and purchase..entertainment and very family friendly.

A great selection of fruits and vegetables from farmers who don't use pesticides,

I love the diversity of people who attend the Grand Lake Market. There is a great selection of organic food. We love supporting local farmers and being a part of Oakland's vibrant community - all at the same place!

Lots of organic choices and it is easy for us to combine a trip to the market with a walk around Lake Merritt, the first bird sanctuary in the U.S. We also like Andy and Cindy's steamed fish in banana leaf and I was happy to hear that they have switched to pollack because snapper is on the no-no list.

This market has a wide variety of farmers and products, with just the right balance of prepared foods vs locally grown, organic vegetables. We love to stroll through the market, buying stone fruit, corn, greens, etc and pick up some pastured eggs before stopping at the food tents to get some lunch. Andy & Cindy's is my personal fave, with a great steamed snapper in banana leaf.

Beautiful location (easy to get to by foot, bike, or bus). Large, varied selection of vendors, both produce and otherwise. Interesting and attractive artwork and crafts for sale. There are few things better than sitting on the grass in the sunshine, bags of fresh produce by your side, listening to the live music and eating fresh tamales while watching kids run around laughing and squealing.

The Grand Lake Farmers Market provides a source for fresh, local, affordable produce, food artisans and craftpersons. It's a great place to bring the family or meet up with friends for food, music and sunshine. The Grand Lake Farmers Market is small, but expanding, and could use this money to help it grow, and bring much needed local business in these trying economic times.

Oakland has a bad reputation, but there are so many reasons why it wonderful. This market brings all aspects of the community together for all the good reasons. Not only are there wonderful organic, local food choices, there are local crafts, musicians, and services that represent and are available for every demographic of Oakland.

It's diverse and welcoming, with a wonderful selection of local produce and crafts. I love my local Farmer's Market!

I love the people dancing to live music, the families sitting in the shade eating their newly purchased brunches, and the lovely sense of community I have as a stroll through the booths watching the people of Oakland enjoy a sunny day at the market!

I love the diversity of both its vendor offerings, and its customers. It's easy to walk to and centrally located for several nearby neighborhoods. It's fun to walk to the lake afterwards, or just hang out with friends and neighbors and eat incredibly good, fresh, local food.

It is an amazing community resource that is available year-round to the people of Oakland.

A diverse mix of ages, races, economic classes all mix together in Oakland to enjoy an incredible selection of produce (Capay Valley, Tomatero, Blossom Bluff!, cheeses (Pug's Leap, Cowgirl creamery, Bodega Bay Goat), Meats (Prather Ranch) and so much more. Why shop anywhere else?

Great farmers market along Oakland's Lake Merritt...tons of local, organic produce and KETTLE CORN :-)

the people, the food, the venue. oakland needs more support for its farmer's markets!

I love this market- it has great variety, a friendly atmosphere, and good quality, fresh products. I am moving to Oakland soon and am excited that this will be my local market in the near future!

It's within walking distance from my apartment. This market always has a complete selection of great produce at decent prices.

I have been picking up fresh, local produce from this market for years. My son loves to meet his friends there to listen to music, eat from Andy and Cindy's awesome Thai stall, while I pick up plants to grow at home from Helena and Peggy- Kassenhoff Growers- to last the season - many varieties of the best tomatoes ever! I learn about sustainable practices, Happy Boy Farm folk are always helpful and friendly, a great community of people sharing resources and helping each other out. Oakland at its best!

iT'S THE FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE CREATED BY THE VENDORS, SHOPPERS, AND MANAGEMENT THAT MAKES SHOPPING FUN!

Great selection of vendors, all very friendly. Quality is high without reaching the prices of the Ferry Building market. Lovely crowd of all ages. And it's a symbol of rebuilding a spot that had been vacant for years.

convenient, big, lots of offerings, so many great local options, great food, great music, popcorn, and spinach bolani!!!

I love the diversity of fruits and vegetables. Very friendly vendors and the most fun thing to do on a Saturday morning.

The vendors are knowledgeable & committed to sustainability & it's a great way to enact diversity of consumption & choice, but most of all the diversity of Oakland's people.

Greatest vendors ever, wonderful products, great variety of stuff, just THE BEST!

It's a beautifully diverse community event, where we can count on running into friends and neighbors, where we find an abundance of food for the week that within our budget, where we get closer to the folks who are producing the food for our communities. I love this market -- it's one of the best parts of my every weekend!

I've been a fan of this market since it started under the freeway! t has done so much to build community and serves as a wonderful meeting place. the foo is wonderful and the selection just keep getting better and better. The Organizers are very responsive to neighborhood issues and desires.

It's our neighborhood market. We know many of the vendors and we know many of our fellow customers.

It is always a happy place, filled with vitality, creativity, music, multi-cultural, resilient, abundant, with a knife sharpener, fresh dahlias, maca from the hills of Bolivia, homemade tamales, vegan soul food, giant blow up toys and slides for kids, yummy food from beautiful Afgani, Latino, Thai, African-Amerian and Indian families...and the best organic veggies anywhere.

The selection of produce is great - farm eggs, flowers, and whatever is in season at the moment!

Great farmers, great food, great entertainment and all in a beautiful setting with the wonderful people in Oakland. We always see friends from throughout Oakland here whenever we go!

The BEST farmer's market anywhere, ever. It's year-round, in the heart of a residential area. I chose my apartment based on its proximity to this market. I can get almost all of my groceries there, including produce, meat, dairy, eggs, olive oil, soap, fresh flowers, and specialty things like olive walnut tapenade. I even got my favorite bag there (thanks Colleen Keenan! Miss you!) And I'll almost always run into multiple friends and acquaintances along the way, which is a nice feeling. Some standout vendors: Happy Boy--fabulous produce (tomatoes! potatoes! snap peas! zucchini blossoms! salad greens with nasturtiums! etc!) sold by the most outrageously adorable, charming queer folk; County Line--extra special greens and different surprise offerings weekly, and very sweet folks; Prather Ranch--what's not to love about this grass-fed, pastured meat operation (which now distributes Soul Food Farm eggs, too); Tomatero Farms--*WONDEROUS* eggs and great produce, three varieties of strawberries in summer, flowers, and very sweet folks; Spring Hill Jersey for the *BEST* cheese and butter, and again, very sweet folks; Cowgirl Creamery--a good complement to Spring Hill Jersey with very different, equally yummy cheese offerings; Twin Girls--amazingly delicious fruit and pomegranate juice, super sweet people; Kawahashi--more amazingly delicious fruit all summer long, and yeah, they're extra nice, too; the lilac stand; Lagier almonds; Solano Mushroom; Rubber Ducky Soap Co (who now make tallow soaps from Marin Sun Farms tallow!). I am gluten intolerant and sugar free, but according to my friends who ain't, Charlie Frank's sweet potato peach pie is phenomenal (and by the smell of it, I believe them). There are also many other kinds of prepared foods on offer, live music, picnic areas, a massage operation, folks tabling for the master gardener program, kids from the Ella Baker Center hawking CDs and raising consciousness, and a seedling stand with very knowledgeable staff. It makes me feel so excited to see the stands go up each Saturday morning and watch this amazing bazaar of wonders spring into being. It makes me feel like a happy little kid. I LOVE this market!!

I walk there every Saturday to buy fresh organic produce. We also buy our holiday gifts there.

They have a colorful array of produce from many vendors, as well as my favorite additions - the crafters booths, are fun and unique to puruse. The live music is also a great touch, and just seeing how this market brings out a large international community really can be heartwarming, and fun to people watch too! Bonus being next to Lake Merritt, for a nice walk after, and you may see a group that does some sort of contact improv dance stuff, which is entertaining to watch for a little bit.

The great food and the great people and the great location manage to make up for the parking hassles.

Awesome fruit sold with a smile. 10 minute walk from home on beautiful Saturday mornings.

They have everything! They are organized, friendly and FRESH! Convenient.. the whole enchilada

What's not to love!? Great produce, lovely people, several yummy food vendors, good music, sunny atmosphere, and the best vegan soul food ever! (Yes, vegan soul food....barbequed tofu, collard greens, black-eyed peas, sweet potatoes...yum!) Every time I go, it lifts my spirits to be around such a positive vibe & to know I am getting the best nutrition for my body.

Not only a great selection and variety, this market has grown from a dinky under the freeway struggling farmer's market to a beautiful, clean thriving, market, always filled with a terrific representation of Oaklanders.

Great produce, wonderful local businesses and artisans, friendly people and a great atmosphere!

They have the best selection of organic produce and meat! Plus the flowers are out of this world!

Good food, good snax, across the street from the independently-owned movie theatre that ha the activist progressive owner!

One word: variety. It has all the great fresh produce one expects from a farmer's market, but there are other perks! You can find vendors with everything from dairy to seafood, flowers to handbags, and olive oil to jewelry. Plus there's a tasty prepared food section, if you get tired after all that shopping. The two performance areas are nice as well.

So many varieties, so much color and flavor to experience every week. A true gem for our community.

This market consistently makes me feel better about the world. Even on Saturdays you can wake up in a bad mood, but this market is a sure-fire way to have a good day. Fresh veggies from friendly people, live music, yummy and diverse lunch options and snacks, and crafty things to feast your eyes on. I LOVE IT!

Great variety of foodstuff and tchotchkes. Artful use of what used to be dead space near the freeway ramps.

They have a huge variety, lots of organic stuff as well as great prepared food stands and I can walk there from my house!

The Framers market has an amazing selection of organic fruits, vegetables, nuts, and speciality hand made jewelry, soap, etc. There is also a phenomenal array of premade foods, including tamales, roasted chicken, BBQ, etc. But most importantly it is built on an amazing site (http://www.splashpad.org/).

It's a wonderful example of an urban farmer's market. Large, with lots of organic vendors, near a playground, there's always music and entertainment. Plenty of spots to eat and enjoy what you just purchased. I think of it as a destination farmer's market.