Old Monterey Farmer’s Market on Alvarado Street
The sights, sounds and smells of the Old Monterey Farmer’s Market on Alvarado Street entice your senses the moment you get near. Vendors line the street selling fresh organic Medjool dates, turnips, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, artichokes, persimmons, lemons, grapefruit, apricots, almonds, raspberries & strawberries. Buckets of colorful flowers are scattered nearby. Street musicians play eclectic melodies on guitars, mandolins and violins as dogs lie dolefully next to them. Walk further along, and you will hear the crackling sound of Edith Piaf tinkling in the air. A man in a brown hat is playing very old records on an antique Victrola he has set up curbside.
Life seems genuine and easy here, and you can slowly peruse everything pervading your senses. Two young girls are selling pineapple flavored cotton candy. There is a woman selling hats and another with hand-made jewelry. Next to her, a man hawks his organic eggs and glass jars of local honey. A grizzled fellow with exotic red and blue parrots and white cockatoos stands on the corner. Local bakeries have set up tables filled with pastries, baklava, donuts, cookies, cupcakes, churros, biscotti, pies, brownies, muffins and more. There is the smell of tamales, fried squid, and falafel melding in the air. In Monterey, variety is indeed the spice of life. You will find every cuisine here, including Indian, Mexican, Japanese, French, Cuban, Italian, Greek, Lebanese, Thai, & Korean, to name but a few.
Cannery Row and Fisherman’s Wharf are great, but if you are visiting Monterey and really want the whole Monterey cultural experience, you really have to check out the Old Monterey Farmer’s Market. It is located on Alvarado Street between Del Monte and Pearl every Tuesday. Hours are October through April: 4:00-7:00 pm and May through September: 4:00-8:00 pm. You will NOT be disappointed! For more information, see oldmontereyfarmersmarket
