Great walk on the dairy farm with Sammy learning about their sustainability. Newborn calves…read moreeverywhere, but the 'extra' was talking to Danny, the horticulturist who entertained our inquisition as he tried to work....beautiful groundswork!

Most of us know that happy California cows make better cheese, but until I visited the Robert…read moreGiacomini Dairy in nearby Point Reyes, I had no idea those same happy cows made the pungent smelling moldy looking cheese known as blue cheese. Mostly because of its odor and yes, I'm admit those funky blue and green veins bothered me as well, blue cheese had always been the one cheese I had stayed away from. That is until this opportunity to tour the dairy and cheese plant came about. So armed with packets of Lactaid this lactose intolerant individual decided this would be my chance to finally toss aside my fear of blue cheese and confront it face to face once and for all. On our itinerary was a tour of the cheese plant, the farm, a visit with the happy cows, a cheese tasting followed by lunch featuring what else, grilled cheese sandwiches. The Robert Giacomini Dairy sits high on a hilltop overlooking the beautiful Tomales Bay. I was a bit nervous sitting in our big luxurious tour bus as it maneuvered its way up a steep, narrow and winding road to the visitors center at this huge 714 acre farm, but at the same time I was excited seeing literally hundreds of cows grazing on the hills beside the road. The new visitors center completed in 2010 is called The Fork. Once inside the building we were greeted by members of the Giacomini family. We were led out to The Fork's beautiful patio to assemble and admire our beautiful surroundings. We donned protective plastic covers to slip over our shoes as to not track anything harmful into the cheese plant. Robert Giacomini and one of his four daughters, Jill, introduced themselves and gave us an overview of the dairy farm and cheese plant. After a brief welcome we were led into the Tasting Room where we viewed a short video showing the main steps in the production and aging of the farm's signature blue cheese which is sold under the brand name, Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co. The Robert Giacomini Dairy has been in operation here since 1959, but in 2000, the family decided to add a signature product to their dairy line. Their first blue cheese was born in August of that year, and to date they are the only blue cheese maker in California. It takes about a gallon of milk to make a pound of cheese. Combining fresh raw milk with cultures, enzymes, kosher salt and mold the resulting curds are formed into wheels weighing about 6-1/2 pounds each. Each wheel is conditioned by hand and aged in a temperature controlled room for up to 6 months. Once inside the actual cheese plant we viewed production workers behind huge glass windows going through the final process of packaging and labeling the blue cheese in entire wheels and wedges. All the work is done by hand. We exited the cheese plant to learn more about the farm. Most of the 300 cows on this farm are Holsteins. The female cows are often impregnated in order to produce more milk. The cows at the Giacomini Dairy average 9 gallons of milk per day with some producing as much as 16 gallons. They are milked twice a day at 2 AM and 2 PM with each session lasting about 4 to 6 minutes. A healthy cow on this farm can produce milk for up to 5 years. Milking is discontinued on pregnant cows about 60 days prior to the day it will give birth. At that time those cows are given a special diet and are paid regular visits by veterinarians. Milk not used in the production of cheese is sold directly to commercial dairy, Clover Stornetta Farms. We walked out to meet the cows then learned about their diets which consists of 100 percent organic feed. The farm, by the way, is certified organic and kosher. They recycle their water, produce their own methane gas and even produce their own electricity using cow manure to keep operations costs lower. After meeting with all the momma cows we were led out to the nursery to meet with the shy baby calves some as young as one day old. Meanwhile back at The Fork, our cheese tasting was set to begin. We sat down to ice water, tart lemonade and a plate of five cheeses created by the family farm. On our plates were the Original Blue, a Mozzarella created on the previous day, the Toma, a mild white cheese, The Mountain available only to farm visitors, and the New Blue which is less pungent than the Original Blue. While I'll admit the odor wasn't very appealing I found myself liking the two blue cheeses very much. My favorite, however, was the Toma. For somebody who takes part in lots of farm tours this tour was easily one of my favorites. Thank you to the Giacomini Family and their farm staff for their hospitality. I'm no longer afraid of blue cheese thanks to you. I've posted a pictorial history of my visit in the photos section. To learn more about events at The Fork, please visit www.theforkatpointreyes.com.

One of the best farmers market I've been to! There were soooo many vendors and the vibes were so…read morefun. We walked around two or three times before actually buying anything because of how happily overwhelmed we were from all the different choices! There's a parking lot across, and you can park on the street. We arrived around 9:30 and it was already packed! Such a fun farmers market! I'll be going more if I'm ever in the area at this time again!

It's another beautiful day at the Sunday Marin Civic Center Farmers Market. There are always new…read moreand interesting vendors to fill your stomachs. Everything at this farmers market is grown or made with care. Stop by and hear their stories, all interesting and beautiful. My new favorite is Gigi's One Bite Wonder and it's always more than one bite. I absolutely love their filled-to-order arroz con leche doughnut ($5). It's light and not too sweet perfection. For balance, ferments at Min-Hee Hill Garden offer many varieties and sizes. Do stop by and check them out. Music is always interesting and a joy to experience. Benjamin Glasgow was really fun on Steel Pan.

One of my fave farmers market in the Bay Area. Has a little bit of everything. We often get Anna's…read moreseafood - so fresh! Not to mention olive oil and sweet strawberries galore. Right at one of my fave shopping areas (country mart) and yummy food selections not to be found elsewhere all in one spot.

Such a vibrant farmers market! Tons of vendors and delicious food vendors. Managed to get some…read moreuber bread, cheeses and veggies/fruits. Parking is ample but it does get really crowded! Cash is king!

Always plan our Bodega Visit dates to include the Sunday Farmers Market. Some weeks are more…read morevibrant than others depending on the season. Quaint setting where we find nice produce, fresh bread, specialty dips, often local eggs, beef, fresh fish, artist's wares, live music, food truck.

Cute little farmers market that allows well behaved dogs on leash. One food truck and several…read morelocal stands. Given the lack of any larger grocery stores, more produce stands would be a nice addition. Either way, everyone is kind and the vendors all accept electronic payment in addition to good ol cash. Raymond's bakery is the most popular stand for good reason. I'm a huge sourdough fan but Raymond's is softer and less sour but still delicious. Bought a loaf of the sea salted sourdough ripped right into it and it was good! Wanted to update Yelp with photos to give you an idea of what they have at the market.

This is a small farmers market, but they had a great selection of a variety of vendors! There is…read morelots of parking at the Walgreens next door to the market.

Don't be fooled by its size and location... this tiny farmers market is full of delicious…read moresurprises! I come here for $10 orchids (courtesy of Rodriguez Farms), and the yummy Indian/Himalayan street treats (8 chicken momos for $6; 3 samosas for $4; and plenty of mouthwatering dipping sauces). And of course, you'll find a plethora of seasonal fruits from Northern California farmers/vendors. Best of all, there's lot of stuff to sample while you browse. And who doesn't love to nosh while they shop? Word to the wise: show up early on Friday morning (no later than 11am). Otherwise, you might miss out on the best stuff.

This is one of my favorite farmers markets in the Bay Area. Always great vibes with friendly and…read moreinviting vendors from all different types of local businesses. Open on Sunday mornings. There are a few options for fresh ready-to-go food plus coffee and tea vendors so you can sip and eat while you shop. They also have live music that gets the community dancing and makes the whole market feel lively. You can buy local produce for the week, plant starters for your garden, a new ceramic cup for your office, jewelry for your loved ones and so much more is offered at this market. If you're looking for a way to spend your Sunday morning and a place to find high quality local goods this is your market!

This is a fun farmers market on Sunday open until 1:30 PM in Sebastopol…read morePony rides are $10 I bought some chocolates from the vendor who has a store across the street. I also bought some sprouts to snack on instead of fattening chocolate! I had a great time here a loved the goose and ponies.

Had to get a ton of photos for Yelp of this adorable 24/7 produce stand that nobody really works at…read moreand runs an honor system. Grab their homemade, chewy, incredible sourdough bread (best sourdough I've ever had) and drop into the box what it's worth. If this system was in NY, people would be running away with the stand! Love this bountiful utopia. 5 stars!!!

Is anything better? Just a magical place, amazing produce. Great system of trust. Kinda place that…read moreyou dream of coming back to.

We were on our way to Talmage to the COTB and decided to make a quick stop…read more Decent little farmers market just off the freeway with plenty of parking. Lots of spacing between vendors so easy to get around even if there is a crowd. As with most the prepared food / knick knack vendors outnumber those selling farmed goods like 3 to1 Aside from that not a bad stop

Great food. The vendors provided wonderful service in a fair like atmosphere. Great place for…read morefamilies