Buy Local Campaign

Please note, some of the information below may have changed temporarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Call or go online for the most updated information.
Buy Local Monterey means:
- Be Local
- Help the Environment
- Support your Community

- Our local businesses
- Our friends and neighbors who are employed by these businesses
- Many of the City programs and services enjoyed by our residents, from the Sports Center to the Library
Shopping locally also is good for our environment. Less time spent in our cars helps reduce our carbon footprint and means more time enjoying our beautiful city. Buying local also often eliminates costs of high transportation fees. Shopping locally reduces your carbon footprint by decreasing the mileage that products have to travel to get to you. This cuts fuel consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with your consumption of that product. Local businesses are also more likely to use local suppliers, thus providing a fresher and more sustainable product.
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Resident DISCOUNT Parking PASS
The City of Monterey offers a parking program which allows Monterey residents, with the ($20 annually) purchase of a discount parking pass, a maximum of two hours of free parking, per day, per parking facility. The discount parking pass is honored in the Downtown Garages, both East and West, the Waterfront Automated Lot (at Washington & Del Monte) and the Cannery Row Garage (at Foam & Prescott).
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Frequently Asked Questions
People throughout the country are rediscovering the benefits of buying local. Food can be fresher and tastier because of when it was picked and how it was grown. Buying local also means you are supporting local economies.
REASONS TO BUY LOCAL
Helps Local Economies - In most communities today food is purchased entirely at a grocery store or market, with only about 7% of local food dollars staying in the community. The other 93% of the modern food dollar travels to pay processors, packagers, distributors, wholesalers, truckers, and fuel, to name a few that a global food system demands. Buying direct from a farmer sends 90% of those food dollars back to the farm. Increasing farm income means more money can be spent locally by the farmer to run their business and home, helping keep the local economy flourishing.
The Food is Healthier - Vegetables are harvested closer to their maturity which adds to their flavor and increased nutritional value.
It's Educational - Frequenting local markets allow you to be more aware of food seasons, where foods are grown and how to use and enjoy foods you may have never seen or attempted to experiment with in a traditional supermarket.
Reduces Food Miles - In the U.S., the average grocery store's produce travels nearly 1,500 miles between the farm where it was grown and your refrigerator.
Saves Natural Resources - When food is transported across countries, hauled in freighter ships over oceans, and flown around the world. A tremendous amount of fossil fuel is burned to transport foods such long distances, releasing carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter and other pollutants that contribute to global climate change, acid rain, smog and air and sea pollution. The refrigeration required to keep our fruits, vegetables, dairy products and meats from spoiling during their long journeys burn up even more fossil fuel.
REASONS TO BUY LOCAL
Helps Local Economies - In most communities today food is purchased entirely at a grocery store or market, with only about 7% of local food dollars staying in the community. The other 93% of the modern food dollar travels to pay processors, packagers, distributors, wholesalers, truckers, and fuel, to name a few that a global food system demands. Buying direct from a farmer sends 90% of those food dollars back to the farm. Increasing farm income means more money can be spent locally by the farmer to run their business and home, helping keep the local economy flourishing.
The Food is Healthier - Vegetables are harvested closer to their maturity which adds to their flavor and increased nutritional value.
It's Educational - Frequenting local markets allow you to be more aware of food seasons, where foods are grown and how to use and enjoy foods you may have never seen or attempted to experiment with in a traditional supermarket.
Reduces Food Miles - In the U.S., the average grocery store's produce travels nearly 1,500 miles between the farm where it was grown and your refrigerator.
Saves Natural Resources - When food is transported across countries, hauled in freighter ships over oceans, and flown around the world. A tremendous amount of fossil fuel is burned to transport foods such long distances, releasing carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter and other pollutants that contribute to global climate change, acid rain, smog and air and sea pollution. The refrigeration required to keep our fruits, vegetables, dairy products and meats from spoiling during their long journeys burn up even more fossil fuel.
Farmers' Markets are the best venue to buy direct from the growers at some of the best prices. Farmer's Markets are also a great place to socialize, browse local crafts, eat a snack or meal, and bring your reusable bags.
These markets are a great way to support your local community as well as local farmers. Farmer's who sell direct to the public without utilizing a middle man get a much better price which they can turn and put back into the farming operation.
LOCAL MARKETS SUPPORTING THE MONTEREY PENINSULA AREA:
MONTEREY
Old Monterey Marketplace
Tuesdays: 3pm - 7pm winter hours, 4pm - 8pm summer hours on Alvarado Street, Downtown Monterey (all year) oldmonterey.org
Fridays: 8am - 12pm, Del Monte Shopping Center in the parking lot behind California Pizza Kitchen and Yama Sushi (all year)
montereybayfarmers.org
CARMEL
Tuesdays: 11am - 3pm, Barnyard (May through October)
Sundays: 10am - 2pm, Everyone's Harvest 215 Reservation Rd.
everyonesharvest.org
PACIFIC GROVE
Mondays: 4pm - 8pm, Lighthouse Avenue between Forest Ave & 17th
SALINAS
Saturdays: 9am – 2pm, Main at Central (May through November)
wcfma.org/salinas
Sunday: 8am - 12pm, Northridge Mall (all year)
BIG SUR
Sundays: Loma Vista
These markets are a great way to support your local community as well as local farmers. Farmer's who sell direct to the public without utilizing a middle man get a much better price which they can turn and put back into the farming operation.
LOCAL MARKETS SUPPORTING THE MONTEREY PENINSULA AREA:
MONTEREY
Old Monterey Marketplace
Tuesdays: 3pm - 7pm winter hours, 4pm - 8pm summer hours on Alvarado Street, Downtown Monterey (all year) oldmonterey.org
Fridays: 8am - 12pm, Del Monte Shopping Center in the parking lot behind California Pizza Kitchen and Yama Sushi (all year)
montereybayfarmers.org
CARMEL
Tuesdays: 11am - 3pm, Barnyard (May through October)
Sundays: 10am - 2pm, Everyone's Harvest 215 Reservation Rd.
everyonesharvest.org
PACIFIC GROVE
Mondays: 4pm - 8pm, Lighthouse Avenue between Forest Ave & 17th
SALINAS
Saturdays: 9am – 2pm, Main at Central (May through November)
wcfma.org/salinas
Sunday: 8am - 12pm, Northridge Mall (all year)
BIG SUR
Sundays: Loma Vista
In Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), farmers sell fresh organic produce directly to families on a weekly basis. By subscribing to a CSA, you support a local farmer who grows in an environmentally responsible manner and you receive a box of produce delivered straight to your door or neighborhood center.
Many CSA subscribers happily report that their families eat healthier, more varied diets. And they find that the produce is fresher and tastier. To learn more about organic foods, please visit the California Certified Organic Farmers site.
Interested in joining a local CSA? Here's a listing of programs supporting the Monterey-Salinas Area:
Many CSA subscribers happily report that their families eat healthier, more varied diets. And they find that the produce is fresher and tastier. To learn more about organic foods, please visit the California Certified Organic Farmers site.
Interested in joining a local CSA? Here's a listing of programs supporting the Monterey-Salinas Area:
- ALBA - Agricultural Land-Based Training Association, www.albafarmers.org/organics/csa.html, (831) 240-1481
- Serendipity Organic Farms, www.serendipity-organic-farm.com, (831) 726-9432
- Two Small Farms, www.twosmallfarms.com, (831) 786-0625
- Live Earth Farms, www.liveearthfarm.net, (831) 763-2448
- Hidden Valley Ranch, http://hvr.org, (831) 484-2193; 484-2192 (fax)
- Real Good Fish, www.realgoodfish.com, (831) 332-1234