A Bag of Oranges for $5, Sunshine for Free: Ventura County at Its Best
Sylvie Belmond 
(CLAIR | Ventura County, CA) — In Ventura County you can surf in the morning and shop farm stands by noon. The beach, the harbor, the berry fields — all within reach. Proof that eating healthy is as easy as can be.
For most of us, agriculture shows up not in reports but in grocery bags. At Santiago’s Fruit Stand, on Olivas Park Drive just minutes from Ventura Harbor, the math is simple. Right now, a bag of ripe juicy oranges goes for $5. Add avocados, peaches, plums, yams, broccoli and carrots, and you’re still under $12. Customers call it a go-to stop for “fresh fruit and great deals.” The kind of place where the shopping feels personal.
Right across the street, Rodela Produce & Flowers offers another choice. Vegetables stacked high, flowers bright in the sun. Together, the two stands turn a quick Ventura errand into a farm-fresh detour.
Even when berries cost about the same as in supermarkets, some shoppers choose to stick with the stands. “It feels and tastes different,” they say. And the money goes to local families, not chains.
A little inland, Underwood Family Farms in Somis and Moorpark turns produce shopping into an outing. Pick your own fruit, wander the barns, ride the wagon. Families go for the experience and leave with baskets full.
Farmers markets bring it all together. They’re not just about produce — they’re about community. You see it, smell it, taste it, hear it, touch it. Five senses in one stop. The food is good, though often pricier than a roadside stand. Understandable. Farmers markets are often pricier than roadside stands because vendors cover the costs of certification, permits and setting up each week — on top of the time and effort it takes to grow, harvest and bring those goodies to market.
Here’s a sample of local markets to visit:
- Adventist Health Simi Valley Farmers Market — Tuesdays, 11 a.m.–3 p.m., 3000 Sycamore Dr., Simi Valley
- Simi Valley Farmers Market (Civic Center Plaza) — Fridays, 11 a.m.–3:30 p.m., Tapo Canyon & Alamo St.
- Ventura Downtown Farmers Market — Saturdays, 8:30 a.m.–12 p.m., Santa Clara & Palm Sts.
- Thousand Oaks Farmers Market (The Oaks) — Thursdays, 1:30–6 p.m., 222 W. Hillcrest Dr.
- Westlake Village Farmers Market — Sundays, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., 2797 Agoura Rd.
Behind the stands and markets is an industry still driving the county. The Ventura County Civic Alliance’s 2023 State of the Region Report shows agriculture generates more than $2 billion a year, led by strawberries, avocados and lemons.
At places like the Adventist Health Simi Valley Farmers Market the county’s bounty meets the community. From farmers to artisans, it’s a reminder that Ventura County’s harvest isn’t just something you read about in a report. It’s here, rain or shine, waiting to be picked up for dinner.
In the end, it comes down to this: bags filled with oranges, berries, eggs, honey and nuts. Simple, fresh ingredients. Meals made at home. Farming may be measured in billions, but its real impact is on everyday tables, one grocery bag at a time.
