‘For a few hours, it feels less like a transaction and more like a community’.
By Rhatia Murphy
Original Air Date: March 11, 2026
Host: Now it’s time to take a stroll on the farmer’s market with Rhatia Murphy.
[Indistinct chatter]
Rhatia Murphy: So here’s the question. Why does going to the farmer’s market feel so much better than going to the mall?
I mean, technically, they’re both places where people sell you stuff, but one of them has dogs, guitars, pickle stands and people just hanging out. And the other one has mostly empty storefronts.
Right now, I’m standing at the downtown Sarasota farmer’s market. Retirees walking dogs. Parents pushing strollers. And there’s always that dude playing the guitar.
[Faint mellow guitar music]
You don’t actually have to buy anything here. You can just walk around, maybe buy a cookie, maybe not.
But the people who really bring a market like this to life are the vendors. One of them told me he’s been setting up his booth here for a pretty long time.
RM: I wanted to ask, how long have you been coming to this market?
Vendor 1: This is our 15th year.
RM: 15th year?
Vendor 1: Yes.
RM: Oh! What do you find special about this particular market?
Vendor 1: The community. It’s great. We see a lot of regulars. People love the flowers, so that’s the easy part for us. So we get a lot of engagement. It’s just been part of it for a long time. Love it.
RM: 15 years is a long time for any weekend ritual, and markets like this one have quietly become part of the rhythm of the city.
Grannie Annie: My name is Granny Annie of Surfing Coconut USA.
RM: You are running a coconut stand. I see you have delicious coconut water—natural coconut water. How did you get into this, and what do you enjoy about this the most?
GA: Well, the owner, Amanda Champ, lived in Costa Rica for many years, and when she came back to the States, she really missed her coconuts. Over the years, she has fostered a relationship with a woman—a coconut grove, in Thailand—and we exclusively purchase our nuts from her. We shave them, brand them with custom brands, and then we chill them and bring them to you and crack them open fresh. It’s a lot of fun, it makes people happy, and you’re supporting a local business.
After grabbing my coconut, I started walking around the market. Trying to juggle a camera, a microphone and a fresh coconut isn’t exactly easy, but you can’t come to a place like this and not stop for something to eat.
And honestly, it might’ve been the best coconut water I’ve ever had. She cracked it open right in front of me, popped the top off, and inside was fresh coconut juice straight from the shell. Nothing added, nothing bottled; just cold, sweet coconut water.
The next day, I stopped by another stand at the Lakewood Ranch Farmer’s Market. This one was serving dips and chips, and the vendor there was pretty honest about why markets like this are worth the trip.
RM: What is your favorite thing about coming to this particular market?
Vendor 2: The people.
RM: The people. Are they nice?
Vendor 2: Yeah. Very nice.
RM: Do they spend good money here?
Vendor 2: Yeah. They are rich in this area. [Laughter]
RM: Yeah. This is the Lakewood Ranch one. I went to the downtown Sarasota market yesterday, and it is different. This is a different market. I think it’s more high-end, I would say.
Vendor 2: The area helps a lot, and, as you see, all the vendors are high quality because it’s hard to be chosen.
RM: After a few samples and a taste test of fresh paella, one thing became pretty clear. Places like this just work differently than the mall food court. At a farmer’s market, you can try a bite, talk to the person who made it and decide right there if you want more.
That kind of exchange builds something you don’t usually get in the big chain stores: Trust. And maybe that’s why markets like this keep showing up in cities everywhere—not just because the food is great, but because for a few hours, it feels less like a transaction and more like a community.
Reporting from the Lakewood Ranch Farmers’ Market, I’m Rhatia Murphy.
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