Local Fresh Food in the Westlake and Loxahatchee Area

More and more people these days are preparing their own meals and eating at home. Many are trying new ingredients, new recipes, and making healthier choices. Cooking and baking have become more popular than ever with banana and sourdough breads leading the comfort food trend.

Living in Westlake, local, farm-fresh ingredients are abundant. Shopping at local farm stands and farmer’s markets and preparing meals together can be a wonderful family bonding experience. Adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet can help you stay healthier, be more energetic, and improve your mood.

Let’s explore all the ways you can eat healthy and where you can find the best local fresh food in the Westlake and Loxahatchee areas.

Tips for Meal Planning & Healthy Eating

A great way to begin is by planning ahead. You don’t need to try and plan a month of menus; rather, start with a simpler week-long plan.

Take into consideration what you need, what your family enjoys, your skill level, and the time required to prepare meals. Don’t go at it alone; get the whole family involved and enjoy the planning, prepping, and cooking process together!

Keep nutrition in mind by emphasizing vegetables and fruits, whole grains, and lean meats. Try new recipes such as making your own pizza from scratch and tofu recipes for vegetarian and vegan options.

Now, make your shopping list, filled with the healthy ingredients you need to create the meals you’ve planned. Stick to your list (and budget) and limit your purchases of sodas, cookies, chips, and such. They aren’t as nutritious as fresh, local items! Here’s a sample list to get you started:

• Vegetables – lots of great fresh options
• Fruits – choose fresh seasonal fruits for the family to enjoy
• Grains and Breads – whole grain breads, corn tortillas, oatmeal, brown rice, and quinoa are all healthy choices
• Sauces – tomato sauce and salsa – you may even be able to find fresh locally prepared varieties
• Milk or Milk Alternatives (almond, oat, etc.)
• Cheese (vegan cheese)
• Eggs – farm fresh are often available at local markets
• Nuts and Seeds
• Chicken
• Seafood – some great fresh catch options are available locally
• Beans – choose dried varieties, which last longer, and cook them up as needed
• Herbs, spices, and seasonings – you’ll find lots of ways to spice up your cooking with fresh herbs and dried spices

Find Local Fresh Food in Westlake and Loxahatchee

Finding a local source of fresh produce provides healthy deliciousness and nutrition the whole family will love. Additionally, choosing local can be great for the environment!

Here are some of the places you can shop for local products and support your community while enjoying tasty, nutritious foods.

Swank Farm

Every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. from October through July in Loxahatchee Groves, you will find the Swank Farm Farmer’s Market chock-full of greens, vegetables, flowers, meats, pastries, and more.

Some local vendors you’ll find include Palm Beach Meats, The Pastry Studio, Laurie’s Granola, Palm Beach Pickle, Creamed Honey, Grinuta Cookies, Dirty Bird Hot Sauce, Floridian Coffee Roaster, Elderberry by Bandi, and many more.

Bring your own bag, wear a mask, and leave your pets at home (except service animals).

Swank Farm also allows you to buy a “share” of the farm’s production during the growing season. A large Swank Sack has 10 items at $55 per bag and a small Swank Sack has 6 items at $35 per bag. You must pre-pay for at least 4 shares (sacks) at once.

You can pick up weekly or every other week Swank Sacks at participating Whole Foods Markets or the Saturday farmer’s market. Sign up for the whole season to try all the over 360 varieties of produce the farm grows.

Location: 14311 N Rd, Loxahatchee, FL 33470

Royal Palm Beach Green Market and Bazaar

In Royal Palm Beach, you’ll find the Green Market and Bazaar offering up fresh produce, baked goods, live plants, honey, fresh seafood, jewelry, crafts, food trucks, and more. Open rain or shine Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. from mid-October through the end of April (except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s weekends).

Leashed, well-behaved pets are welcome at this lakeside market, and there’s plenty of free parking.

Location: 1050 Royal Palm Beach Blvd. Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411

Caribbean Plants and Produce

Looks can be deceiving, because while Caribbean Plants and Produce is a 1-acre fruit tree nursery where you can find a houseplant or a tropical fruit tree, you can also find yummy exotic produce for your family to try.

Visit the produce stand in Loxahatchee and try some pink guava, quenepa, avocados, carambola, starfruit, dragon fruit, coconuts, mangosteens, and more.

Location: 13527 Okeechobee Blvd, Loxahatchee Groves, FL 33470

Rorabeck’s Plants and Produce 

Located in Lake Worth and open 7 days a week, Rorabeck’s Plants & Produce offers beautiful fresh flowers and plants along with tasty fresh produce, farm-fresh eggs, meat, seafood, dressing, juices, cheese, organic groceries, local honey, ethnic foods, gluten-free bakery items, hot sauce, and much more.

They have a produce market, grocery, nursery, Smoothie & Lunch Cafe, and a cash-and-carry wholesale operation which even offers Blue Ridge Beef frozen raw dog food.

This family-owned business has served the Palm Beach County community for more than 30 years, and they have a commitment to provide fresh products at an affordable price.

Location: 5539 S Military Trail, Lake Worth, FL 33463

Lake Worth Farmer’s Market

On the water in Lake Worth, this Saturday market is open from October through April each year and features fresh eggs, delicious local produce, baked goods, fresh flowers, music, coffee, plants, and more. This dog-friendly market is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine, through the season and supports more than 80 vendors.

Location: 1 Ocean Blvd West side of A1A and Lake Avenue, Lake Worth, FL 33460-3938

The Gardens GreenMarket in Palm Beach Gardens

Open Sundays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., The Gardens GreenMarket features more than 120 vendors selling fresh produce, honey, dairy, flowers, pastries, cheeses, prepared foods, spices, crafts, and more. Enjoy the live music – but leave your pets at home.

Location: City Hall Municipal Campus 10500 N Military Trail, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410

Brothers Farmers Market

Featuring an excellent selection of fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy, beans, breads, cookies, sandwiches, fresh-squeezed juices, fruit smoothies, and more, Brothers Farmers Market is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. This indoor market is like a grocery store with shopping carts and accepts cash and credit/debit cards.

Location: 1937 N Military Trl J, West Palm Beach, FL 33409

Lantana Shoreline Green Market

Open Sundays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. throughout the market season, the Lantana Shoreline Green Market showcases locally grown and sourced fruits, vegetables, fresh-caught seafood, grass-fed meats, jellies, jams, honey, baked goods, world-class cheeses, and handcrafted items.

Also, be sure to check out the Lantana Summer Twilight Market on the 2nd and 4th Friday nights of each month with craft beer, live musical performances, and dozens of artisan and food vendors.

Location: Lantana Recreation Center, 418 S. Dixie Hwy Lantana, FL 33462

Your Own Family Garden! 

You might even try your hand at growing your own family garden! You don’t need a farm or a huge yard. Vertical gardens, herb gardens, and even container gardens on the patio make it easy for families to grow their own ingredients and enjoy farm-to-table deliciousness. 

Time to Eat!

Once you’ve collected your ingredients and your meals are prepared, enjoy them together with your family!

Sky Cove of Westlake is a great place to call home and enjoy time sharing meals with family and friends. Plan your visit today and find the home of your dreams in Palm Beach county.

For more information or to schedule a virtual tour, contact us today!