I’m a farmers’ market buff and have been on the lookout for a farmers’ market finder that is up to my standards. California Farmers’ Market Finder has brought California iPhone users a bounty of info with an easy to use interface.

The iPhone App first hit me with happiness at it’s quick load time and easy use. There has been a recent surge of Farmers’ Markets in San Francisco so I decided to begin my search here. I was happy to find the experience to be accurate, painless and easy.

Good Features

• Interactive map
• Many markets listed with predominantly accurate data
• Sort by date, county, or city
• Internet connection unnecessary to view listed farmers’ markets
• Send update, report inaccurate info

By storing info on your device, this app has opened up its doors to users without an Internet connection (although without connectivity, you do loose out on the links to specific market website). Farmers’ Market finder is reliable and a simple database. Instead of wading through info, the ability to filter the data left a good taste in my mouth.

Also Every map listed within is interactive. I found the ability to zoom in and out exceedingly helpful to help gain my bearings on exactly where each market is located.

Features to Make it Great

With this sort of app, I was hoping to get a taste of every market. Of course this would be quite an undertaking and is really a minor thing to mention as each market is connected to its website. This brushes the taste of the market on those who run it.

In a later version, perhaps there could be a list of resources on seasonal produce. As this is something that really ought to be covered in a farmers’ market website and not integral to a farmers’ market finder app, I won’t let this omission affect my review.

I was also apprehensive that with the quantity of farmers’ markets covered, that there would be many errors in the data; this has been taken care of with an easy button at the top right of each listed market allowing you to let the developers know what changes need to be made. Yes, this may not be the best option if you are solely relying on the app’s data in finding a market, but it is better than no option at all. With that in mind, take a look at my official note to the user below.

The last thing that would bring this app from goodness to greatness, is incorporating a rating system or some social interactivity. 3rd Whale has the right idea (although the follow-through is questionable) in it’s ability for user generated ratings. This could also give California Farmers’ Market Finder an added benefit of synergy with the individual markets vying for a top ranking spot, and marketing this app. Of course this is just an idea and I understand the implementation will take a season’s more work.

Note to the User

As Farmers’ Markets are infrequently closed or temporarily moved, it would behoove you to double check that the farmers’ market you’ve chosen is in fact open by either calling or checking the market’s website. As a frequent farmers’ market shopper, there is nothing worse then showing up without realizing that the market has been closed for the week due to construction, San Francisco Love Fest, Bear juggling, or other arbitrary community events. I’m just talking from experience here, and yes this is tangential to the app itself.

Bottom Line

This is the best farmers’ market app I have found as it is easy to navigate, interactive, responsive, and mostly up-to-date. You cannot find a better deal as the app is also free. Bravo California Farmers’ Market Finder!