TASTE THE PETALUMA BOUNTY
A lot has changed since Petaluma was chartered in 1858. Through it all, Petaluma has stayed true to its roots as an area known for its agricultural bounty and diversity. Artisan cheeses, organically-grown heirloom vegetables, all-natural free range poultry, and fresh-off-the-farm eggs are just a few of the products that give Petaluma its well-earned reputation as an area of delicious abundance.
Dotting the fertile Petaluma valley, you’ll find family farms and ranches that take pride in using the same time-honored techniques perfected by the generations before them; they know that there’s no cutting corners when it comes to producing authentic flavor. Taste and see for yourself at one of Petaluma’s farm-to-table restaurants, farmers’ markets, or ranch tours.
List of Petaluma’s Farms, Ranches and Creameries
Petaluma’s Bountiful Farmers Markets
2022 PETALUMA’S FARMERS MARKETS
Saturday Afternoon at Walnut Park
May 7 – November 19 • (415) 999-5635
Open air market with 20 local farms, fresh brewed coffee, locally made artisanal foods as well as hand made crafts. from 2-5pm at Petaluma Blvd. S. and D Street
Tuesday Morning Eastside at Lucchesi Park
Year-round • (415) 999-5635
Locally grown agricultural products, locally made hot and packaged foods as well as arts and crafts and music; 10am-1:30pm; 320 N. McDowell Blvd.
Thursday Evening in the Theatre District
June – August • (415) 999-5635
Locally grown agricultural products and locally-made hot and packaged foods; 4:30-8pm on Thursdays; 2nd & C Street.
FARMS IN PETALUMA
Whether you call it “agri-toursim” or you just want to know more about where your food comes from, you don’t have to travel far afield in Petaluma to have an experience that connects you with a working ranch or farm.
About 10 minutes from downtown is 260-acre family owned and operated Tara Firma Farms. On the east side of town, Green String Farm is recognized as a leader in climate-conscious farming. They grow produce for some of the Bay Area’s best restaurants. Stop by their farm store and take some home for yourself.
Well-traveled folk often say Petaluma reminds them of Tuscany. Nestled in the hills west of Petaluma, McEvoy Ranch has 18,000 trees and is the largest organic producer of Tuscan-style, estate-grown olive oil in the US. Visitors can schedule private walking tours of the ranch with delightful nibbles and wine tastes along the way.
Our ranches and farms are both beautiful and educational. Visit their websites for information about tours and experiences.
VISIT A FARM OR RANCH
(Often by appointment only; visit websites for info)
Achadinha Cheese Company
Garden Valley Ranch
Green String Farm
Jupiter Foods
Lavender Bee Farm
McEvoy Ranch
Sonoma County Farm Trails
Tara Firma Farms
FARM TO TABLE RESTAURANTS IN PETALUMA
In Petaluma, farm-to-table cuisine isn’t a new foodie trend, it’s the way that Petaluma restaurants have always approached sourcing and preparing food. Our fertile farmland and moderate climate have made it possible for restaurants to serve locally-grown, seasonal foods since the first restaurant opened on the dusty streets of Petaluma in the mid-1800s. And it continues to the present day.
As much as we like to talk about our agricultural legacy, what really matters is the way the food tastes…that’s when “farm-to-table” changes from a description to an experience. Critics have sung the praises of Central Market’s “brilliantly-prepared,” locally-sourced menu for years. Their produce, poultry and pork come from their nearby farm and everything is made from scratch daily.
Della Fattoria’s name says it all. Meaning “of the farm,” everything on their menu is rooted in the soil of the Weber family’s westside ranch. Open for breakfast and lunch, the freshest local ingredients are loving showcased in sophisticated yet casual fare. Other downtown restaurants with an emphasis on farm-to-table cuisine include Cucina Paradiso, Wild Goat Bistro, and Petaluma Pie just to name a few.
EXPLORE THE BOUNTY OF OUR FARMERS MARKETS
Everyone knows that you’ll find the freshest and tastiest seasonal fruits and vegetables at Petaluma’s three Farmers’ Markets but that’s only the beginning of why they are such popular community hubs.
Each market has its own personality, offering a distinctive mix of fresh-off-the-farm produce, prepared foods, live entertainment, flowers, grass-fed meat and poultry, and artisan products. So whether you visit the Tuesday morning, year-round Eastside Market, the May through mid-November Saturday Afternoon Market in charming Walnut Park, or the summer Thursday Evening Market in lively Theatre Square, you’ll take home a memorable experience…and some delicious food.