Montecito Coast Village Farmers Market

The Montecito Coast Village Farmers Market operates within the Montecito Business Sector on the 1100 and 1200 blocks of Coast Village Road, under the umbrella of a farmers market association whose roots reach back to Santa Barbara’s first market in 1979 and whose nonprofit corporation was established in 1983. That history gives this Friday market a clear place in a longer regional system built to connect California farmers directly with local shoppers. In Montecito, that means a weekly morning market on Coast Village Road run by the Santa Barbara Certified Farmers Market Association, also referenced as SBCFMA.

Why it matters locally

The Santa Barbara Certified Farmers Market Association was established as a non-profit mutual benefit corporation to provide California farmers with direct access to market their products to the local community, and the Montecito Coast Village Farmers Market is one of the association’s weekly markets. That mission is tied to a long local history: the initial Santa Barbara farmers market launched at the Old Santa Barbara Mission Lawn in 1979 and was among the first 20 farmers markets in California. Some of the original participants named in that founding story include Randy Wade, Tom Shepherd, and Robert “BD” Dautch. The current organization still reflects farm and food business participation through board members including Todd Burkdoll of Burkdoll Farms, Jacob Grant of Roots Farm, Melissa Sorongon of Piedrasassi Wine and Bread, and Aldo Chavez of Chavez Family Farm.

Know before you go

No dogs are allowed, which is the detail most likely to change how you plan a Friday morning stop on Coast Village Road. The market is listed at 1200 Coast Village Rd. and also described as operating in the Montecito Business Sector across the 1100 and 1200 blocks of Coast Village Road, so expect the setting to be tied to that commercial stretch rather than a closed fairground or park. Restrooms are not available. Management is clearly identified through the Santa Barbara Certified Farmers Market Association, with Sam Edelman listed as general manager, Alfredo Puente as senior onsite manager, and Victoria Sarquilla as market manager. If you arrive without cash, the market’s information booth handles token purchases for shopping across the association’s markets.

Payments & SNAP

All Santa Barbara Certified Farmers Market locations accept CalFresh EBT, WIC, FMNP, and credit cards in exchange for tokens, and Montecito is included in that system. The information booth can swipe ATM or debit cards as well as Visa, MasterCard, and American Express for market tokens, and those tokens are accepted by all SBCFMA vendors and do not expire.