Lakewood Ranch farmers market is a family affair

By Lesley Dwyer
| 7:00 p.m. January 5, 2026

The first farmers market of 2026 at Waterside Place draws a large crowd.

East County
Neighbors

Farming is often a family business, which often leads to The Farmers’ Market at Lakewood Ranch being a family affair.

Julie Richie was manning a stand for Red’s Farm, which is owned by her son Chase Richie. Chase Richie started the business in 2020 on their 10-acre property in Riverview when he was still in high school.

What started with just a few pigs is now a full-blown operation that offers pork, poultry and eggs.

The guacamole at the Dynasty Guacamole stand is a family recipe, passed down from owner Assiel Landa’s grandmother. Landa’s wife, Veronica Ramon, runs the business with him.

Colleen Blumenthal’s husband, Mitch, died in 2023, but they established Blumenberry Farms off Lorraine Road 30 years ago after moving to Sarasota from New York.

“I married a flower child,” she said.

The farm is certified organic and grows a variety of herbs and vegetables.

Vince Martinez was handing out spoonfuls of seafood paella for his uncle and Spanish chef Efrain Martinez. “Chef Ef” had a show on PBS by the same name.

Vince Martinez said the massive pan of paella is empty by the end of nearly every farmers market.

Lakewood Ranch's Mark Theobald stops by the Red's Farm stand to chat with Julie Richie.

Colleen Blumenthal is a local farmer. Blumenberry Farms is located off of Lorraine Road in Sarasota.

Vince Martinez is Chef Ef Martinez's nephew. He says that giant pan of paella is typically all gone by the end of each farmers' market.

The Lakewood Ranch Farmers' Market takes place at Waterside Place every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sarasota's Sofia Gonzalez and Christine Traynor grab a pineapple from the Come Under the Yum Yum Tree stand.

Yilian Martos and Alina Ronquillo know how to dress to sell guacamole. Dynasty Guacamole sells at every farmers' market in Southwest Florida.

Maria Des Vignes runs the Succulantes stand, which sells succulents and herbs.

Lakewood Ranch's 4-year-old Rylynn Pitcher eats a mango ice pop from Florida Pops.

The Bite Me Cookies by Cindy truck's wheels are on theme.

Mike Williams entertains the crowd from the pavilion.

The Magic Crepes tent attracts a steady crowd throughout the morning and afternoon.

author

Lesley Dwyer

Lesley Dwyer is a staff writer for East County and a graduate of the University of South Florida. After earning a bachelor’s degree in professional and technical writing, she freelanced for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Lesley has lived in the Sarasota area for over 25 years.