Mountain View farmers market

On Sunday mornings the commuter parking lot at the Mountain View train station fills with farm trucks, canopies and shoppers. The Mountain View Farmers' Market has run here for decades and its operator calls it one of the largest farmers markets in California. For anyone in Palo Alto it is an easy outing: a short train ride or bike ride, a couple of hours of shopping and then brunch on Castro Street a few steps away.

This guide uses the schedule and details published by the market's operator, the California Farmers' Markets Association, as of late October 2026. Markets change their vendor lists and occasional dates, so check the operator's page the week you plan to go.

When and where

• Day and time: Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Weather: Rain or shine.
• Location: The Mountain View Caltrain station lot at 600 West Evelyn Avenue, at the north end of Castro Street.
• Season: Year-round. The market keeps running through the winter, with dates listed into December.

The California Farmers' Markets Association is a market operator based in Concord that runs farmers markets in several Bay Area towns. Our existing farmers markets guide notes that the association says it has served Mountain View since 1994.

The Hope Street relocation dates

On some Sundays the market leaves the station lot and sets up in the Hope Street parking lots, known as Lots 4 and 8, about a block west. The operator lists these relocation dates for the rest of 2026:

The operator does not explain the moves on the market page itself. Relocation days are easy to handle if you know about them: walk one block west from the station along Evelyn Avenue toward Hope Street. Dates can be added, so check before you go.

What you will find

The operator describes the market as bringing together more than 100 farmers and food purveyors, with 80 or more family farmers. It is listed as a certified farmers market. In California that means the farmers selling produce grew it themselves. The mix usually runs from fruit and vegetables to eggs, flowers, nuts, bread, pastries and prepared food.

What is on the tables follows the seasons of Northern California:

1. Fall: apples, pears, persimmons, pomegranates, winter squash and the last of the tomatoes and peppers.
2. Winter: citrus, greens, root vegetables, cabbages and broccoli.
3. Spring: strawberries, asparagus, peas, spring onions and early cherries.
4. Summer: stone fruit, berries, melons, corn and the widest range of tomatoes.

Prepared food makes the market a natural brunch stop. Oren's Hummus, which has restaurants on Castro Street and in downtown Palo Alto, lists a Sunday stand at the market on its own website. Other vendors change through the year. The operator also publishes a weekly crop newsletter for shoppers who want to plan ahead.

Getting there from Palo Alto

By Caltrain

This is the obvious choice. The market is in the station's own lot, so you step off the train and you are there. Mountain View is in the same fare zone as Palo Alto, which means a one-zone fare. Weekend trains run less often than weekday ones, so check the timetable for both directions. Our Caltrain guide covers schedules and fares.

By bike

The ride from Palo Alto is flat. The Stevens Creek Trail crosses Evelyn Avenue and the tracks on a bridge right by the station, so riders coming from the bay or from southern Mountain View can arrive almost entirely on paths. Bring panniers or a backpack for the produce.

By car

The operator points shoppers to the free city lots along Hope Street and to two downtown garages, the nearest at Bryant Street and West Evelyn Avenue. It warns that parking at the station and in nearby neighborhoods is limited. On relocation days the Hope Street lots hold the market, so head straight for a garage.

Tips for shopping the market

• Go early for selection. The first hour has the best choice of berries, eggs and bread. Popular items can sell out.
• Go late for calm. The last hour is quieter, though the choice is thinner.
• Bring bags. Reusable bags and a small cooler bag for the drive home make life easier.
• Bring a card and some cash. Payment options vary from stall to stall.
• Ask about food assistance. If you use CalFresh, ask at the information booth what the market accepts. We could not confirm the details on the operator's page.
• Pets. Check posted rules before bringing a dog, since many markets limit animals around food stalls.

Shopping for the week

Many regulars use the market as their main produce run. A little planning stretches the haul through the week. Walk the whole market once before buying, since the same item can vary in ripeness and price from stall to stall. Buy sturdy produce such as citrus, apples, root vegetables and squash for later in the week and soft fruit and greens for the next day or two. Ask farmers how long something will keep or when it will be ripe. They are usually glad to tell you.

If you are visiting from out of town without a kitchen, focus on fruit you can eat on the spot, bread and prepared food. Dried fruit and nuts travel well as gifts.

Making a morning of it

The market sits at the head of Castro Street, so it is easy to fold into a longer visit. A simple plan:

1. Take the train to Mountain View and shop the market when it opens at 9 a.m.
2. Drop heavy bags at the car or keep them light if you came by train.
3. Walk down the car-free blocks of Castro for coffee or brunch. Our guide to where to eat in Mountain View lists places confirmed open this fall.
4. Spend an hour at the public library or Pioneer Park, a few blocks south.

If you are visiting from out of town and want to stay near the station, you can compare hotels in Mountain View for your dates.

How it compares with Palo Alto's markets

Palo Alto has two markets of its own. Both run year-round. The California Avenue market is on Sundays and the downtown market is on Saturdays. By its operator's account Mountain View's market is one of the largest in the state and it adds the convenience of being right at a train station. If you want a smaller, neighborhood feel, the Palo Alto markets suit you better. If you want the widest choice in one stop, Mountain View is the pick. Our farmers markets guide compares all of them. For the rest of the week, our guide to groceries and specialty food covers stores in Palo Alto.

Frequently asked questions