7 Farmers Markets in Naples, Marco Island & the Everglades

Farmers markets are big in and around Naples and Marco Island. These expansive, bustling bazaars are appealing spots to buy local produce, lovingly prepared foods, crafts, unique clothing and more. You might even come across a treasure – a piece of handmade jewelry, perhaps – that you can’t get anywhere else.

Unlike a lot of Florida destinations, which close their markets through the summer and early fall months, the Paradise Coast boasts several that are open year-round.

The region’s stellar dining scene means the takeaway meals are exemplary; vendors, many of them also brick-and-mortar restaurants, serve phenomenal fare– so you can eat quite well at these outdoor markets.

Here’s a roundup of seven long-operating farmers markets throughout the area:

Third Street Farmers Market, Downtown Naples

Every Saturday from 7:30-11:30 a.m., a stretch of street in the heart of downtown transforms into this Naples institution. The Third Street Farmers Market brims with fresh produce, flowers, baked treats, jams, jellies and more, as well as all kinds of goodies you can eat right there as you sit back and take in some live music. You’ll even find crafts and clothing, too. From mid-November through April, the market takes up four blocks on Third Street South, from Broad Avenue to 13th Avenue South. From May to November, it moves to the nearby Neopolitan parking lot.

 

Vanderbilt Farmers Market, North Naples

Located in the Shoppes at Vanderbilt 10 miles north of downtown Naples, this bustling year-round market draws enthusiastic crowds looking for tasty food to eat on site or take home. (Locally grown produce, anyone?) You’ll find lots of stuff not available in any old grocery store. The market also features clothing, jewelry and crafts vendors, as well. During the tourist season, from late October through May, the place showcases as many as 90 merchants. The Vanderbilt Farmers Market takes place on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. It’s a great time even if you don’t buy a thing…but you will.

 

St. Paul’s Farmers Market, East Naples

Held on the big, grassy grounds of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, three miles east of downtown Naples, this market is, to use the church’s own words, a “ministry of goodwill, hospitality, rejoicing and gratitude.” That includes a wide array of enticing food, fresh produce, crafts, clothing and more, as well as boutique services such as watch repair and knife sharpening. Vendors pay a small fee, which goes to support the church. Civic organizations like the Humane Society Naples, The Shelter for Abused Women & Children, and the Salvation Army get free space. So, if you like your farmers market with a spiritual and community-minded bent, St. Paul’s Farmers Market is the place to be on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon, mid-November through mid-April.

Pine Ridge Road Farmers Market, Northeastern Naples

Can’t make a Saturday market? How about Sunday? The Pine Ridge Market, eight miles northeast of downtown Naples, offers a bounty of products and services from local artisans, farmers, bakers, artists and small businesses. Fresh produce, gourmet foods, desserts, jams, honey, pickles, cheeses, jewelry, apparel, hand-made and fair-trade products: you name it, it’s all here, and more. Open Sundays starting October 10th, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

 

Golden Gate Community Farmers Market, Golden Gate

How about a farmers market that’s open both Saturdays and Sundays? Hit the Saturday market at Golden Gate Community Center to shop for an eclectic array of food and unique products. Then do it all over again on Sunday, when the community-run market sets up a mile east on Collier Boulevard. The market runs year-round, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. during the peak season, and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. during the toastier summer season (starting in June).

Marco Island Farmers Market, Marco Island

Smack in the middle of the island, two miles from the beach, you’ll find the Marco Island Farmer’s Market in Mackle Park, across the street from the Marco Island Historical Museum. A colorful array of vendors gather on Wednesdays, 7:30 a.m to 1 p.m., from mid-November to mid-April. Mackle Park is a temporary location. The regular venue, Veterans Community Park, is undergoing a redesign. Mackle Park will be the spot for the 2021-2022 season, and perhaps a bit longer. Wherever the venue, you’ll be browsing local merchants amid the beauty of Marco Island.

South Collier Farmers Market, Southeastern Naples

From downtown Naples, point yourself southeast, and head about 10 miles to this seasonal market that runs every Sunday from early November to early May. You’ll find a wealth of food, arts and crafts, food trucks and other offerings arrayed on a parking lot adjacent to the Naples Outlet Collection (just in case you want to squeeze in another kind of bargain shopping). South Collier Farmers Market’s hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. A stop at this market is a splendid way to start a day of outdoor fun and adventure (and get a grab-and-go meal). Head just a few miles west to stunning Rookery Bay. A few miles southeast lies the wonder that is the Big Cypress National Preserve, which makes up the western section of the Everglades.