The State Street Farmers Market has climbed to fourth place in California in American Farmland Trust's America's Farmers Market Celebration, the Carlsbad Village Association announced Monday, Sept. 7.

The ranking puts the Wednesday market one spot from a top-three California finish in the national contest, which distributes $15,000 in total prize money to winning markets across the country. The association said the #4 position is based on the contest's rankings, though the American Farmland Trust website does not display state-level standings publicly.

A top-three finish could mean both recognition and money for the market. In 2025, fourth place nationally paid $1,250, and third place paid $1,500, according to American Farmland Trust's winners announcement. The 2026 per-place breakdown has not been published. The Carlsbad Village Association said any award money would go back into the market to support its growth.

Last year, Sacramento's Midtown Farmers Market finished first in California and third nationally in the celebration, according to the same AFT announcement.

The celebration invites communities nationwide to vote for their favorite farmers markets. The campaign runs Aug. 1 through Sept. 30, according to the American Farmland Trust website. However, the market's individual AFT listing page displayed a "Voting has closed" message as of Wednesday, Sept. 9, showing 56 total votes. Whether voting remains open for the State Street market could not be independently confirmed.

The market opened Oct. 12, 1994, with 20 vendors as one of the Carlsbad Village Association's earliest projects. It moved to its current State Street location in 2013 and now draws more than 50 vendors each Wednesday, including local farmers, artisan food makers and fresh flower sellers, according to the association. The group calls it one of San Diego County's longest-running certified farmers markets.

The market describes itself as "essentially an open-air grocery store" on its AFT listing, highlighting certified growers and artisan-packaged foods.

Earlier this summer, the market won Gold in the 2026 Best of North County awards.