We love our Englewood Farmers Market. It’s the best in the area, no contest. Small businesses bring all kinds of treats: fresh breads, cheeses, handmade pasta, soaps, candles, popcorn, vibrant produce, plants, Filipino and Asian dishes, kosher challah, local honey, citrus and juice, and so much more.
The Englewood Farmers Market is located at Pioneer Plaza on Dearborn Street in Englewood, Florida, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Thursday. Each week, they feature live music and spotlight a rotating group of local nonprofits.
The atmosphere? Lively and welcoming. People wander with coffee in hand, music floats through the air, families and dogs take it all in beneath that warm spring Florida sunshine. Nothing beats starting your Thursday here. The early morning air, the buzz of Englewood waking up where it all comes together. Grab some homegrown food, support your neighbors, treat yourself to something fresh and handmade. Really, do yourself a favor and arrive hungry.
Local farmers bring in the freshest Florida produce. Fishermen set out wild-caught seafood caught just off our coast. Bakers fill tables with everything from crusty sourdough to gluten-free treats. You can try a little of everything, including international foods, handmade cheeses, jams, and coffee. Vendors line their booths with vibrant flowers, native plants, and even fruit trees. Music drifts through the plaza, adding to the energy and making every market morning feel like a celebration of the Englewood community.
People from all over the area show up to meet neighbors and friends, shop the market, and soak up the sunshine. It’s less an errand, more an experience, with a genuine connection to local food and the folks who produce it.
The Rotary Club of Englewood Sunset runs the market, and every penny they collect from vendor rentals goes right back into the community. When you visit or support the vendors, you’re helping Englewood thrive.
A Brief History of the Englewood Farmers Market
The Englewood Farmers Market started with Marie Laforge back in 2010. She wondered why Englewood didn’t have its own market. In early 2011, she joined forces with Ricardo Ruggiero and Mike Hutchinson to recruit the best vendors around, using the success of Mango Bistro as proof that Englewood could offer something special. That summer, Lee Perron jumped on board to help get things rolling.
Over dinner at Marie and Ricardo’s house, the group hashed out their plan. Lee Perron took on the manager’s role, Mike Hutchinson became treasurer, Marie Laforge handled marketing, and Ricardo Ruggiero took on information and tech. Within weeks, their ideas became reality, and the Englewood Farmers Market was born.
Fast forward to Fall 2021, when The Rotary Club of Englewood Sunset took over management and steered the market into its next chapter. Now they focus on four core values: nutritional health, education, sustainability, and a strong sense of community. You’ll find local and organic produce, baked goods, meats, seafood, dairy, herbs, prepared foods, honey, syrups, sauces, salsas, and more on the tables.
The mission: “We’re here to champion local Florida growers and agricultural producers, guided by four core values: nutritional health, education, sustainability, and a strong sense of community.”
They partner with groups that make a real impact: Englewood Community Care Clinic, Englewood Elementary School, the Florida Organic Growers Association, Helping Hand Food Bank, and St. David’s Food Pantry, just to name a few. The Englewood Community Redevelopment Agency also lends its support.
The market runs from October through May, then takes a break for the summer before returning in the fall. So come out and see for yourself why Englewood hosts the finest farmers market in Florida.
The Englewood Farmers Market at Pioneer Plaza, 335 W. Dearborn St., Englewood, FL 34223. Open Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., October through May.
