The 12th Annual Summer GreenMarket closed out its season on July 25, 2026, ending a run of Saturday mornings at the Old School Square Campus that began May 30. The market, a program of the Delray Beach CRA, was also under new management this year: Nathan Little stepped into the role of GreenMarket Manager this season. The GreenMarket returns for its winter season in October.
Why the Summer GreenMarket Runs Shorter Than the Winter Season
The summer market runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., an hour earlier than the winter season, and covers only a couple of months rather than the full fall-through-spring stretch. This year’s heat made the reasoning behind that clear.
“This summer market was a hot one! It really drove home the reason why we wrap things up an hour earlier than the winter, and for only a couple of months. I’m happy that we can still get those months in the books for our amazing vendors that come out, rain or shine!” Little said.
Turnout held steady across the season, and the weather cooperated until nearly the end. “The turnout was about what we expected. Luckily, south Florida’s weather held off on the rain until the last hour of the last market of the season!” Little said of the July 25 finale.
Several vendors joined the market for the first time this summer. Little said what stood out about them was the effort they put into their setups. “All of the new vendors really stepped up this season. I was impressed with the time and effort a lot of them put into the presentation and overall look of their booths.”
When asked what changed most this year, Little pointed to his own move into the manager role. “Stepping into the new role as manager has been a great experience. While I already knew most of the vendors, it was nice getting to know them better to understand their hopes and concerns.”
That closer working relationship also surfaced what vendors want. Little said some have told him they wish the market ran every Saturday of the year, though the schedule has to make the time worthwhile for every vendor on the roster, not just a few. He also expects some regulars, including runners from a local run club, to be counting the weeks until October.
Taste-T’s Pastries, one of the many new vendors at the Summer GreenMarket
What to Expect When the GreenMarket Returns in October
Planning for the winter season is already underway, and one addition is taking shape.
“We plan on having regular Chef Showcases this coming season. Nothing has been set in stone, but I would like to cover as many different cooking styles as possible!” Little said.
The GreenMarket is one of the more visible pieces of the CRA’s work, and one of the least structural. Where much of the agency’s portfolio involves buildings, corridors, and land, the market is about what happens in the spaces between them. It gives small food and produce businesses a low-barrier place to sell directly to customers, and it gives residents a standing reason to gather downtown on a Saturday morning. Both return in October.
