We are super lucky to live close to Larry’s Produce, arguably the best farmers market in the entire Bay Area. It is open from mid-June until the end of December and even by those generous timing standards, it never feels like enough time. Darn that growing season!

I feel like I post about Larry’s every single year, but you have to understand: we really love this place. Produce is bountiful and cheap. I always run into people I know (it is a quick drive from my house) and the check stands are always manned by high school students or college kids out for the summer. There is a great sense of community and support at Larry’s. My kids have grown up with the EPIC pumpkin patch/Halloween spread each year and lugging around buckets of produce up to the check stand.

This is the cheapest place for me to get everything I need to juice (juicing accounts for half of my food intake a day so I go through A LOT of juice). But my all time favorite thing about Larry’s?

THE FLOWER FIELDS.

These “you-pick” flower fields are beyond amazing. You are able to leave with an armful of vibrant blooms for just a few dollars (just mind all of the little bugs). I’ve learned the hard way to never wear sandals or flip flops; the flower fields are watered regularly so there are some significantly muddy patches and I have made a mess of myself more than once…or ten times.

I find that the flower fields are deeply grounding. I can only focus on the flowers, the beautiful differences in each flower, picking the perfect one, minding the bees and mud. I find that my mind doesn’t really wander here and I am able to be perfectly present.

I guess this means I need to spend more time in the flower fields? Challenge accepted! If you are local in the Bay Area you have GOT to spend some time at Larry’s. Go when it opens (9 am) but beware, it fills up with cars and people FAST. Cash only but there is an ATM on the premise. They also sell cage free eggs for $1.99 a dozen, local honey, berries in cartons and sometimes pies. Larry’s is one of my favorite things about living in our valley and I’m always thankful for it.