Farmers' Market at Lakewood Ranch
Have you made it to the Farmers’ Market at Lakewood Ranch? If you haven’t, you’re missing out. It was named Florida’s top farmers’ market in the 15<sup>th</sup> annual America’s Farmers Market Celebration, a contest sponsored by the American Farmland Trust and the Farmers Market Coalition.
This bustling market welcomes more than 100 vendors every Sunday from 10am to 2pm at Waterside Place in Lakewood Ranch, year-round.
The market began in 2017 at the Sarasota Polo Grounds on Wednesdays, December through April. It then moved to Lakewood Ranch Medical Center parking lot on Sundays, says Nicole Hackel, events and resident experience manager for LWR Communities. Waterside Place was always planned to be the final place for the market, and the market moved there more than two years ago.
The market averages slightly more than 10,000 attendees each Sunday in season, Hackel says. During the slower summer season, it attracts 4,000 to 6,000.
“Both the market goers and vendors are passionate about high-quality food, products, and life.”
Just what is it that makes the market great? For one thing, “It’s a foodie’s paradise,” Hackel says. You’ve got all types of vendors, from organic farmers like Honeyside Farms to two empanada vendors to Uncle Nick’s Bagels to We B Poppin Kettle Corn to Rock N Eggroll and lots more.
There’s no talk of politics—instead, the big decisions are what to have for brunch (crepe or bagel?) or what type of pretzel to try at Brezel King (we opted for Four Cheese).
With its location right beside a lake, you can occasionally feel refreshing droplets of water from the lake’s fountain. You can enjoy your food while walking around the market, or you can grab a table right beside the scenic lake and people watch.
In addition to the vendor mix and music, the market also has weekly yoga at 9am, kids’ activities, and a collaboration with Transition Sarasota as part of the Suncoast Gleaning Project to collect leftover veggies from the market and take them to local food banks. There’s also a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program veggie box in partnership with Honeyside Farms.
The vendors at the Market at Lakewood Ranch realize why it’s special, too.
“Both the marketgoers and vendors are passionate about high-quality food, products, and life,” says Sophia Wettstein, owner of Mindful Blooms, specializing in locally grown flowers. “You can’t help but feel the positive energy and joy there.”
“The main idea of the farmers’ market, for me, is to bring happiness and joy to the community, support small businesses and local farms, and to get know your local vendors,” says Dana Takenova, owner of Quni Tuni, which specializes in Central Asian food. Takenova was a vendor with the market for about five years, through August 2023. She hopes to one day return as a vendor but right now considers herself a regular customer.
The market folks are excited about their designation as Florida’s top farmers’ market (and also 22<sup>nd</sup> in the nation). “It’s such a testament to the hard work our management puts in and our weekly vendors,” Hackel says.
Farmers' Market at Lakewood Ranch: Waterside Place: 1561 Lakefront Dr, Lakewood Ranch; lakewoodranch.com
