More Coachella Valley farmers markets to stay open through end of May this year

With temperatures ticking up — and the typical seasonal slowdown just around the corner in the Coachella Valley — those hoping to enjoy any last bits of spring weather are in luck: Local farmers markets in several valley cities are staying open through May this year.

Many outdoor markets, such as those in Palm Desert and La Quinta, usually close at the end of April, but Christiana Green, who runs the certified markets in five valley cities, said she wanted people to get a few extra weeks “before we all have to go dark for the summer.” (A market being "certified" means it has a stamp of approval from the state's agricultural commissioner and that producers are selling only their own produce directly to consumers.)

The markets will soon have a few new vendors and offerings. For example, Green said a food truck from the Indio staple TKB Bakery & Deli will be on scene starting next week for the markets in Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert and La Quinta.

While other cities’ markets will be closed from June through September, only the Palm Springs Certified Farmers Market stays open through the summer, thanks to an indoor location at the Palm Springs Pavilion – located at 401 S. Pavilion Way – that it migrates to starting in June.

To ensure you have a chance to visit one (or many!) of the valley’s array of options before they close for the summer, The Desert Sun assembled a list of main farmers markets across the valley.

Palm Desert

Now open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesdays, the Palm Desert Certified Farmers Market was closed for an extended period this year, before recently reopening at the lot adjacent to the Chamber of Commerce building off Highway 111. While there’s just a few weeks left before the market closes again for the summer, Green said she didn’t want it to be inactive too long and fall of the public’s radar entirely.

Indio

The weekly Indio Certified Farmers Market runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays. Located at a city-owned property just west of City Hall at 45-235 Towne St., between Bliss and Oasis streets, the city’s new market opened in early 2022.

While Palm Springs is the only city with an indoor market for the summer, one could soon arrive in the easy valley: Green hopes to have a new indoor spot once Indio’s mall is finished with remodeling.

La Quinta

The Certified Farmers Market in La Quinta is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sundays, and this year will be the first time it stays open through May. The market is located in Old Town La Quinta.

Palm Springs

Before moving indoors for the sweltering summer months, Palm Springs’ year-round market remains open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. The outdoor market is in the parking lot of the Palm Springs Cultural Center, which also sponsors the event.

Rancho Mirage

The city’s weekly market is open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Friday, located at the Rancho Mirage Community Park. This year is the market’s first time staying open through the end of May.

Indian Wells

Held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursdays, the weekly Indian Wells Certified Farmers Market is now outside of Southwest Church, located at the corner of Washington Street and Fred Waring Drive.

Other cities

Coachella, Desert Hot Springs and Cathedral City don't have official farmers markets.

Tom Coulter covers the cities of Palm Desert, La Quinta, Rancho Mirage and Indian Wells. Reach him at thomas.coulter@desertsun.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: More valley farmers markets to stay open through May this year