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Times of the Islands Magazine

10 Farmer's Markets and Grocery Stores to Visit in the Southwest Florida Area

Whether you're looking to support local farmers and businesses or find locally sourced foods and products, you can find what you're looking for in our TOTI.com Farmer's Market and Grocery Stores Guide.

Below you'll find 10 great options for a gentle stroll and a fine local experience. Your favorite not on our list? Contact us to let us know and we’ll add it!



Bailey's General Store on Sanibel & Captiva

Bailey's is Sanibel's one-stop market for all your grocery, hardware, and gift needs. Family owned and operated, over 100 years old. Specialty Deli, Produce, Bakery, Wine/Beer, Grocery, and Meats.

Bailey's General Store is your Sanibel shopping headquarters, with a full-service grocery and hardware store in the heart of Sanibel Island. The store carries a large selection of fresh produce, fresh cuts of meat, a variety of Sanibel seafood, a full-service deli, and an in-house Sanibel Island bakery. You will also find a full line of organic and gluten-free products throughout the various departments in Bailey’s Sanibel shopping center. The bakery has freshly made donuts, scones, and breads. The Bailey's General Store deli offers a variety of hot foods for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as catering services for your special events.

Let Bailey's General Store cater to your Sanibel shopping needs. Services include shopping for your groceries and delivering them to your vacation destination. The Coffee Bar at Bailey's is now serving espresso-based drinks, hot chocolate, smoothies, and specialty coffees.


Sanibel Island Farmers Market

The Sanibel Island Farmers Market, located at City Hall, is open every Sunday, starting October 4, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. through May 30. This will be the 13th season for the market on Sanibel. This outdoor marketplace has something for everyone: Fresh fruits and vegetables, seafood, honey, meats, cut flowers, prepared meals, mini-donuts, cupcakes, bagels, guacamole, pickles, cheeses, baked goods, native plants, artisan foods, local crafts, organics and much more.

The market will even be open on Easter Sunday. It is encouraged to bring any dry and canned foods to the market booth or give a monetary amount on Sundays that will be donated each week to F.I.S.H., the Islands' food pantry. The market is a plastic-straw-free zone, and shoppers should refrain from smoking. Only service dogs are allowed in the vendor area. No single-use plastic bags will be used. Reasonably priced reusable bags will be for sale at the market booth, or you can bring your own.

Certain precautions will be in place to keep the community safe and prevent the spread of COVID-19. Everyone must wear a mask upon entering the farmer's market. Do not come if sick. Practice social distancing. Customers are asked to grab and go, only touch if buying, and wash/clean hands frequently. If possible, customers are encouraged to order from vendors ahead of time or make a list before coming. Please follow the signs for parking, all handicap parking will be located at City Hall.


Vanderbilt Farmers Market in Naples

Located in the Galleria Shoppes at Vanderbilt, it is North Naples' largest, longest-running, year-round, pet and family-friendly farmer's market. Bringing the area a great mix of vendors, such as fresh and locally grown produce, flowers, honey, baked goods, specialty foods, artisans, personal care products, home accessories, and much more! The market features more than 90 vendors from October through May, Saturdays from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Precautions are in effect in light of the COVID-19 global pandemic. As long as the local government agencies have a mask mandate, all guests and vendors will be required to wear a mask. If these mandates are relaxed, the market will still strongly recommend that if you are elderly, immunocompromised, or have an underlying health issue that you continue to wear a mask while out in the public. Those who are handicapped may enter at either location, but all others are asked to enter at Bob's Seafood Tent and Exit at the Food Truck end. This is mandatory per Collier County and the CDC requirements for events. Vendors and their workers upon check-in for the market starts will be temperature checked. Any vendor or employee who has a temperature of 100.4 or greater will be asked to leave the market for the day.

Vendors will be required to have hand sanitizer or wipes at their booths for both themselves and guests of the market. The market has also purchased touchless hand sanitizer stations that will be placed at each end of the market for guest use. Additional port-o-potty's for guests and vendors' use along with a portable hand washing station will be set up. Vendors will be required to have a type of barrier to keep guests a minimum of six feet from their tables inside their tents. They will also be required to monitor their own waiting/checkout lines to ensure social distancing is being followed.

Additionally, vendor tents will be spaced at a minimum of 10 feet apart. Masks and gloves are required by any vendor serving or making food at the market. Sampling will be allowed, but it will need to be in a sealed, individual, single-use container.

Santini Farmers Market

Santini Farmers Market started in 2010, with a stationary produce stand, lots of take-home food items, and lovely arts and crafts. It has always been a favorite for locals and tourists alike.

This will be its 10th year as the first farmer's market on the south end of the beach. This market will continue to have a wide variety of foods, arts, crafts with some fresh new vendors.

Santini Marina Plaza, nestled amongst many high-rise condos, is located in South Fort Myers Beach, home to upscale beach clothing stores and a wide variety of restaurants including the newest on the Southend, Fish-Tale Waterfront Dining.

The market is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., with beautiful seafood, produce, pastries, fritters, cinnamon rolls, French and Cuban food, guacamole, fresh-squeezed lemonades, tie-dye, local photography, artsy gifts, jewelry, CBD, and more. Masks are required by the town when not socially distant.


Local Roots Farmers Market in Bonita Springs

The Saturday market, hosted by Local Roots, is in Bonita Springs. It is located in the Bonita Bay community in the parking lot of The Promenade Shopping Center. This “green” outdoor market opens the first Saturday in October through the last Saturday in April, from 8 a.m. to noon. Local vendors sell fresh fruits, vegetables, cut flowers, plants, baked goods, seafood, honey, jams, and much more. While shopping, customers can also enjoy prepared foods and drinks for breakfast and lunch.

New this season, limited artists and crafters will be in attendance. Parking is available throughout the plaza for market patrons. Local Roots provides communities in Lee County with the highest quality farmers markets: selling local food, agricultural products, and handcrafts. Other market locations include Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, Lakes Park, Coconut Point, River District, Sanibel Outlets, Boca Grande, and select special events throughout the year.


Sprouts Farmers Market in Estero

The new, 30,000-square-foot store at 19990 South Tamiami Trail officially opened on Wednesday, June 3, 2020.

Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc., one of the fastest-growing retailers in the country, has made healthy living accessible to shoppers for nearly two decades by offering affordable, fresh, natural, and organic products. True to its farmers' market heritage, Sprouts is known for pioneering its unique grocery model by offering a welcoming store layout featuring fresh produce at the center of the store, an expansive bulk foods section, and a vitamin department focused on overall wellness. Sprouts also offer a unique assortment of healthier products with special attributes, such as plant-based, gluten-free, keto-friendly, and grass-fed, to meet the growing and diverse needs of today’s consumers.

The healthy grocer’s new location is bringing approximately 110 full- and part-time career opportunities to the area. Sprouts’ “Healthy Living for Less” approach to grocery shopping means potential team members should share a passion for healthy eating and the fresh, natural, and organic products offered throughout the store.

The location is open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.


Downtown Farmers Market Fort Myers

The market is open every Thursday year-round, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., in Centennial Park west of the Caloosahatchee Bridge. The River District Farmers' Market is a lively green market offering a variety of local produce, seafood, baked goods, honey, nuts, cheese, flowers, plants, and more for the discerning shopper.

A fixture of the downtown Fort Myers River District since 1994, the market is popular with both tourists in season and locals during the summer months. Be sure to stop by soon for a fun and rewarding experience. Organizers are asking that visitors continue to social distance. It is officially reopened after having closed for some time during the COVID-19 global pandemic. Free parking vouchers can be picked up at the market for parking at the City of Palms and Main Street.


Southern Fresh Farms in Fort Myers

Come get the freshest produce, fresh-cut flowers, take a stroll to see the hydroponic operation on your way to visit the barnyard animals. Your kids will love the huge playground and you can sit and relax by the waterfall on a swing. Barnyard animals, including cows, goats, a donkey, a turkey, and chickens, are all rescued and love people. Guided tours are available to learn about the food the farm produces.

Products available for purchase include seasonal produce, raw honey, flowers, fresh seafood, an on-site brewpub. There is an annual fall festival every October and food trucks every Friday night from 6 to 9 p.m. The farm is open Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

East Fork Creek Gardens in Fort Myers

East Fork Creek has partnered up with local farms and vendors to supply the community with healthy options. Customers have access to fresh produce and locally made goods to help with health and safety during these uncertain times. The gardens' aquaponic lettuce is grown under organic principles in Fort Myers. Harvest is twice a week to bring Southwest Florida residents the freshest selection possible.

Online shopping is available for delivery on Tuesdays and Saturdays to Fort Myers, Sanibel, Captiva, Estero, Bonita Springs, Miromar Lakes, and North Naples. Guests can visit the gardens on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Cape Coral Farmers Market

The Cape Coral Farmers’ Market is located in downtown Cape Coral at the intersection of S.E. 47th Terrace and S.E. 10th Place. This area is often referred to as “Club Square.” It is open every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Voted Best of the Cape for Farmers Markets the last three years, all three markets (inclusive of Surfside Sunshine Market and the market at Cape Harbor) are always overflowing with fresh, local and healthy produce, fruits and foods, along with melt-in-your-mouth baked goods, made-on-site guacamole, salsas, homemade jams and jellies, pickles and olive mixes, cheeses, take-home foods and much more.