St. Augustine Farmers Markets and Local Food Scene

St. Augustine’s relationship with locally grown food runs deep. St. Johns County’s fertile agricultural lands have fed the city since its founding, and today a thriving farmers market culture connects residents and visitors directly with the farmers, fishermen, artisan producers, and food craftspeople who define the local food identity. Shopping and eating local in St. Augustine is not a trend – it’s a tradition.

The St. Augustine Farmers Market

The main St. Augustine Farmers Market operates weekly in the historic district and draws both dedicated locals and curious visitors. The market features a diverse mix of produce vendors selling seasonal fruits and vegetables grown in St. Johns County and surrounding areas, along with seafood vendors offering locally caught fish and shrimp, artisan bakers, local honey producers, herb farmers, and prepared food vendors offering ready-to-eat items made with local ingredients. The market atmosphere is social and welcoming, reflecting the community-centered values that define St. Augustine’s local food culture.

What’s In Season

Northeast Florida’s long growing season means that local produce is available year-round, though the specific offerings change with the seasons. Winter and spring bring cool-weather crops – strawberries, cabbage, kale, broccoli, and root vegetables – while summer and fall feature the heat-loving crops that thrive in Florida’s humid climate: tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, okra, and various tropical fruits. Plant City strawberries – grown just a few hours south – make their way to St. Augustine markets in winter and early spring and are worth seeking out specifically.

Local Seafood

St. Augustine’s fishing heritage means that locally caught seafood is a central element of the local food scene. Shrimp boats still operate out of the St. Augustine Municipal Marina, and locally caught shrimp – dramatically superior in flavor to imported frozen product – are available fresh at the docks and through several local retailers. Blue crab, mullet, flounder, and various seasonal catches round out the local seafood offering. Buying directly from local fishermen at the docks when boats come in is one of the most authentic local food experiences available in St. Augustine.

Artisan Food Producers

Beyond produce and seafood, St. Augustine has a robust community of artisan food producers creating products that reflect the local culinary identity. Local honey producers maintain hives throughout the county and produce single-source honeys with distinctive flavor profiles. Small batch hot sauce makers draw on Florida’s pepper growing tradition. Artisan bakers produce breads and pastries using local and heritage grain varieties. These small producers are best discovered through the farmers markets and the growing number of specialty food retailers in the historic district.

Farm Visits and Agritourism

Several farms in St. Johns County welcome visitors for U-Pick experiences, farm tours, and direct sales. These agritourism experiences provide an educational and hands-on connection to the agricultural land that has sustained St. Augustine for centuries. Strawberry picking in the spring is a beloved local tradition that families return to year after year. Farm stands throughout the county offer fresh produce at prices below retail, and the relationships built between farmers and their regular customers represent the best of local food culture.

Engaging with St. Augustine’s local food scene – whether at the farmers market, the fishing docks, or a farm stand on a country road – provides a connection to the place that no restaurant menu or grocery store can replicate. Eat local in St. Augustine and taste what this remarkable corner of Florida has always been about.