Change is good.

Especially in the case of the Santa Barbara Certified Farmers Market.

The recent move to the corner of State and Carrillo streets appears to have been a fruitful decision.

By 8 a.m. Saturday, hundreds of people filled the streets looking for their favorite healthy foods, fresh flowers and community conversation.

 “I think it’s a better venue,” said Erin Duarte. “I like the parking. I think the vendors have more space. It just seems like we have more options and better things to choose from.”

Duarte said there was concern over the move, but she thinks more people have been showing than before. 

While the deals aren’t necessarily affordable, Duarte said she likes buying her produce at the market and that it’s worth the money. 

“I always come for roots, organic salad mix, grapes and the tangerines, and then everything else that’s in season and looks delicious,” Duarte said. “It’s hard to walk away without a handful of stuff.”

The Farmers Market moved in September from its previous location at the corner of Cota and Santa Barbara streets. The city of Santa Barbara owned the lot and decided to build a $100 million police station at the site.

The new location is more spread out, unlike the parking lot it sat on in the past. The vibe, however, remains. Shoppers chat about everything from family and food to sports and politics. Singers perform songs and strum their guitars near people asking for money from passersby. It’s a community of people, a slice of Santa Barbara, on a Saturday morning.

Rob Oosterveer of Los Padres Orchid Company has been selling plants and flowers at the farmers market since the late 1980s. He said he’s seen more customers since the move. 

“It’s really nice,” Oosterveer said. “It’s a lot bigger, and there’s a lot more space for the customers, a lot more parking.”

The new market stretches down Carrillo Street between Anacapa Street and Chapala Street with flowers, fruits and vegetables and makes a T-shape going down State Street with lobster, baked goods and hummus. 

The Roan Mills stand, which sits at the end of a line of stands on State Street, sells bread and baked goods. Colm Fitzgerald, who works at the stand, said he’s seen the same amount of customers as before, if not more. 

“The sales have been good because we also get just traffic from people who are walking on State Street,” Fitzgerald said.

He said the first week or two was a bit tricky as it took people awhile to find them but that overall the new spot has been working well. 

Even at 8 a.m., the street was full of people pushing carts and filling bags with flowers and food. Patrons discussed the upcoming presidential election and shared excitement over the Dodgers playing in the World Series. 

Joe Schuster said he comes to the market to buy tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables because they’re more fresh than what he finds in the stores. 

Last week he was missing the old spot, but now he’s getting used to it. 

“It’s closer for me, there’s wider streets. It’s a little bit more inviting and you get shielded from the sun, so I’m getting used to it,” Schuster said.