Guides · Clermont, Florida
Clermont FL Markets & Local Food Producers Guide
Hills & Groves - The steepest ground in peninsular Florida, planted with citrus until the freezes took it.
Clermont's food scene isn't a nostalgia act for the citrus era. It's a working network of farms, drive-thrus, and festival tents built for the people who live on these hills and the commuters who pass through them.
Clermont's Food Scene: From Citrus Groves to Modern Farms
The Florida Citrus Tower, built in 1956, still stands over a landscape that has largely abandoned the crop it was built to celebrate. Repeated freezes and suburban development erased the orange groves that dominated Lake County's economy into the mid-twentieth century. What replaced them isn't a monument to the past—it's a food economy built on new arrivals, convenience, and agritourism. The tower remains a landmark, but the ground beneath it answers to different demands now.
Farmers Markets & Festivals in Clermont: What to Know
The biggest food event in south Lake County isn't a weekly market; it's a three-day festival. Pig on the Pond, held at Waterfront Park on Lake Minneola, draws more than 20,000 people and is run by Project Scholars, a non-profit. The 2026 edition was the 27th. It's the closest thing Clermont has to a traditional market gathering, and it's the one weekend a year when the town's food scene is impossible to miss.
Pick-Your-Own Farms & Agritourism Near Clermont
For fresh local produce outside festival season, the model has shifted from bulk citrus to pick-your-own and on-site amenities. Southern Hill Farms, rated 4.7 from over 3,000 reviews, operates cafes and bakeries on its property at 16651 Schofield Rd. It's a farm-as-destination, not a grove—berries, events, and a kitchen, rather than shipping crates. That's the new face of agriculture here: you come for the experience, not the commodity.
Best Coffee & Breakfast Spots in Clermont for Commuters
The Highway 50 and US-27 corridors are lined with quick-service options built for the daily flow. 7 Brew Coffee (rated 4.7), Dunkin' (rated 3.7), Starbucks Coffee Company (rated 4.3), and Panera Bread (rated 4.1) cover the chain spectrum. For local stops, Jeff's Bagel Run (rated 4.7) and Just Love Coffee Cafe - Clermont (rated 4.6) sit on FL-50 and offer alternatives to the drive-thru default. Orlando Cat Café, rated 4.6, adds a different kind of stop in the Cagan Park area—coffee with a side of adoptable cats.
Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt in Clermont: Sweet Stops After the Hills
The athletic identity of Clermont—reinforced by the National Training Center, established in 2001, and the "Choice of Champions" slogan adopted in 2014—deserves a proper sugar payoff. Twistee Treat Clermont (rated 4.7) and Twistee Treat (rated 4.4) are two separate locations on Highway 27. Bruster's Real Ice Cream (rated 4.7) sits on E Hwy 50, and Yummis Frozen Yogurt and Cafe (rated 4.5) is on 8th Street. None of these are hidden; they're just the reward after the climb.
| Name | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Twistee Treat Clermont | Classic soft-serve stand, 4.7 rating, S Hwy 27 |
| Twistee Treat | Second location, 4.4 rating, S Hwy 27 |
| Bruster's Real Ice Cream | 4.7 rating, E Hwy 50, reliable chain scoop shop |
| Yummis Frozen Yogurt and Cafe | 4.5 rating, 8th St, self-serve frozen yogurt |
Shopping in Historic Downtown Clermont: What to Expect
Historic Downtown Clermont, along West Montrose Street, is a compact shopping district rated 4.7—worth a walk, but it won't cover all your errands. The gaps are filled by chain retail nearby: At Home (rated 4.4), Bath & Body Works (rated 4.5), and ABC Fine Wine & Spirits (rated 4.6) all sit on the highway corridors. The market energy here isn't in the storefronts; it's in the events and the farms.
The citrus groves are mostly gone, and the tower that commemorates them is now a backdrop. What's left is a food scene that serves the town as it is: a hill town of commuters, weekend athletes, and festival crowds. That's not nostalgia—it's just the current crop.
Common questions
- Where can I get fresh food or local produce in Clermont?
- Southern Hill Farms, at 16651 Schofield Rd, is your main spot, rated 4.7 from over 3,000 reviews. It has cafes and bakeries. For other food stops, try Jeff's Bagel Run or Yummis Frozen Yogurt and Cafe. No dedicated farmers market is listed here.
- What are the best-rated cafes or bakeries in Clermont?
- Top-rated options include Southern Hill Farms (4.7), Twistee Treat Clermont (4.7), and Jeff's Bagel Run (4.7). Bruster's Real Ice Cream and 7 Brew Coffee also score 4.7. Orlando Cat Café is a unique choice at 4.6. All are listed with addresses in the guide.
- Is there a place to shop for local goods or souvenirs in downtown Clermont?
- Historic Downtown Clermont, at 670 W Montrose St, is rated 4.7 and offers shopping. It's a good spot for local finds. For other shopping, At Home and ABC Fine Wine & Spirits are options, but they're chain stores, not local producers.
- Can I visit a citrus grove or see the old Florida citrus history in Clermont?
- The Florida Citrus Tower, built in 1956, still stands, but the groves are mostly gone due to freezes and development. You can see the tower as a landmark, but there are no working groves to visit in town. Southern Hill Farms is your best bet for a farm experience.
- What are some good coffee or ice cream places near the lake or downtown?
- For coffee, try Just Love Coffee Cafe (4.6) or 7 Brew Coffee (4.7). For ice cream, Twistee Treat Clermont (4.7) and Bruster's Real Ice Cream (4.7) are top picks. Yummis Frozen Yogurt is another option. All are within a short drive of Waterfront Park.
- Are there any annual food or market events in Clermont?
- Pig on the Pond is the big one—three days at Waterfront Park, drawing over 20,000 people. It's run by Project Scholars and the 2026 edition was the 27th. It's a major event, but not specifically a farmers market.
Every business named above is one we hold a listing for, and every date traces to a source on our sources page. We do not describe menus, interiors or service we have not verified. Details change — confirm before you travel.