MARIN HARVEST CALENDAR
Marin County’s food system is sustained by its coastal grasslands, an ecosystem that has flourished here for thousands of years. The county’s dramatic rolling hills and thin soils naturally favor livestock grazing over intensive cultivation. Even so, tucked within this landscape, you’ll find vegetable farms in protected valleys, apiaries following seasonal blooms, and specialty producers working with these unique microclimates.
When you eat local foods at their peak, you become part of the cycle that has sustained this place for generations, directly supporting the farmers and ranchers who tend our working lands. This guide connects you to these producers and the conservation legacy of MALT, which has permanently protected over half the agricultural landscape since 1980.
HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE
MOST CONNECTED
Foods at seasonal peak, produced in harmony with Marin’s protected farmland
WELL CONNECTED
Options when most connected choices aren’t available—slightly past peak season
How to connect
Where to find these seasonal foods throughout Marin County
June July August
SUMMER
Grass-fed Beef
Fresh or frozen from MALT-protected ranches, cattle at peak condition
MOST CONNECTED
Dairy Products
Sweeter milk from late spring grass
Summer Fruits
Peak ripeness in warm weather
Summer Tomatoes & Squash
Heat-loving crops at their prime
Fresh Herbs
Basil, oregano thriving in summer heat
Late Summer Berries
Blackberries, blueberries, strawberries
WELL CONNECTED
Pastured Chicken & Eggs
Marin farms, birds thriving on summer pasture
Goat Products
Fresh milk and soft cheeses
Stone Fruits
From nearby Sonoma County
Local Honey
Marin summer wildflower varieties
How to connect
Discover local farm stands and honor-system roadside stands throughout the county for fresh, peak-season produce at its absolute best quality. And look for delicious food from MALT-protected land on restaurant menus as you dine out locally.
September
October
November
Heirloom Apples & Pears
Gravensteins, Bartletts from local orchards
Grass-fed Beef
MOST CONNECTED
Fresh or frozen from MALT-protected ranches, cattle at peak condition
Pumpkins
West Marin heirloom varieties
Late Summer Vegetables
Tomatoes, peppers from West Marin
Local Olive Oil
From season’s harvest
West Marin Wine Grapes
Harvest season
CONNECTED
WELL
Dairy Products
Supported by local silage and hay
Stored Root Vegetables
Carrots, potatoes from Marin’s summer harvest
Fall Greens
Kale, chard returning with coastal fog
Fall Mushrooms
Chanterelles, oyster mushrooms from local foragers
First Meyer Lemons
Early harvest beginning
How to connect
Explore the variety of farmers markets throughout Marin—from year-round markets like San Rafael (Thursdays & Sundays 8am–1pm) to smaller community markets. Celebrate at u-pick apple orchards and harvest events.
December January February
WINTER
Fresh Dairy Products
MOST CONNECTED
Rich milk from stored hay and silage
Winter Greens
Kale, chard—sweetened by frost
Root Vegetables
Carrots, beets—peak harvest season
Oysters
Tomales Bay farms, peak flavor in cold months
WELL CONNECTED
Winter Squash
Stored from fall harvest
Apples
Stored from fall harvest
Local Cheeses
Aged, hard varieties
Stored Garlic & Onions
Cured for winter storage
Hardy Herbs
Rosemary, thyme, sage
How to connect
Look for local products in your neighborhood grocery stores—supporting local producers connects you directly to MALT-protected farmland even when most markets and farm stands are closed for the season.
March April May
SPRING
Spring Lamb and Wool
Marin ranches, peak flavor from new grass
MOST CONNECTED
Pasture Eggs
Peak production with longer days
Local Honey
Marin spring wildflower bloom
Dairy Products
Sweet from Marin’s spring grass growth
Early Farm Vegetables
First tender lettuces and spinach, protected growing
CONNECTED
WELL
Cut Flowers
Early spring blooms from local growers
Local Cheese
Made from rich spring milk
Stored Root Vegetables
Last of winter’s local harvest
Hardy Herbs
Rosemary, thyme, oregano from overwintered plants
How to connect
Connect through CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) boxes—weekly shares of seasonal produce from local farms that often start in spring and continue through the growing season. Every purchase supports Marin’s people, land, and economy.
