Hi everyone,

Famers' markets are in full swing--where is your favorite farmer's market?
Do you have a favorite vendor? What do they sell? What makes that vendor unique? What's the most special thing about your farmer's market?

I live in Vermont's tiny capital city of Montpelier. We have a farmer's market every Saturday and I have several favorite vendors. One of my favorites is Pete's Greens—this guy Pete has the most beautiful and special produce you've ever seen! At the beginning of the season, he had wild arugula which was utterly amazing. And I love buying cheese from Lazy Lady, who names her cheeses with fun titles like Tomme deLay.

What makes our market special is the community feel. It's a fairly small market and there's always live music (well, at least a couple guys playing some bluegrass!) and friends chatting.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Carolyn,

I live in San Antonio and have had a hard time finding a GOOD farmer's market. So if someone knows the location of one that they go to and find has a good variety of produce, I would surely go! I found one last year by accident on Wurzbach but it didn't have many sellers. I was lucky to buy a basil plant that came up voluntarily this year, so that was a great purchase! I do hope you get some good information on this topic, Carolyn!
Joan

Joan, I found this list of farmer's markets in Texas and there are a few listed to be in San Antonio...
http://www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets/States/Texas.htm

About an hour from where I live in Charleston, WV is one of the best open air markets around. They transformed an old railroad depot into shops and an extensive outdoor market. Not only can you buy fresh produce in season in the extensive outdoor market, but inside the old depot building is a row of unique shops -- they have a fresh meat and fish market , a wine shop, several shops with locally made foods and a gourmet restaurant. The outdoor market is like nothing I have ever seen before. I was their a few days ago and stocked up on fresh West Virginia peaches -- nothing like them! YUM!

http://www.capitolmarket.net

Patti

Thank you Carolyn! I'm going to that site right now! Saw one this morning but I didn't have time to stop, so I may not have looked hard enough before!
Joan

Austin has a great one! It's the Sunset Valley Farmers Market and it's a true community. They have a Saturday every season where the entire market gives a percent of the days sales to a local organization. They have a music tent and a little food court of local eateries.

A couple of my favorite vendors are Bandera Beef, local grass fed beef. Amador Farms is my true favorite! They are a local hydroponic farm with all different types of greens and lettuce.
Sweetish Hill Bakery is a local bakery of fresh breads and pastries that are also a vendor at the market. They treat the market special by doing breads especially for it that they don't sell in their bakery. Awesome stuff!

Definately worth writing about

Santa Barbara has amazing farmers markets. There are 8 markets per week in the county and we have them year-round, rain or shine.

I used to work at the large Saturday one in downtown for a few years selling organic herb and veggie seedlings for the Community Environmental Council. I've been hooked ever since.

There are all kinds of local, and not too local goodies. The market board is trying to fairly allocate space to both locals, and not so locals that have offerings that we don't produce here (like stone fruit). We also have local fisherman who sell shrimp, oysters, crab, mussels, and sometimes scallops.

I like to visit many different vendors and support only the organic vendors with the exception of the sprout people. My favorite vendor is Earthrine Farms, where BD grows food. His farm is located between Camarillo and Lompoc and for a time was throwing a fall celebration of harvest and music with his friend Mike (?) Shobie. Shobiefest rocked...it was free and wonderful.

Sorry for the tangent. What I like best about Earthrine Farms is their organic flowers. Flowers are usually grown with so many chemicals that it's refereshing to actually be able to purchase them without a guilty conscience.

I sometimes walk to our downtown markets, which is about 2 miles for me each way. When I arrived 2 weeks ago, I spent a lot of time. I ran into friends, sat an enjoyed live bluegrass and drumming, got a wheatgrass shot, and smiled the whole time. As I was there I thought that there is nowhere else I would rather be.

Viva el mercado!
Kristen

quote:

Originally posted by dirtgirl:
My favorite vendor is Earthrine Farms, where BD grows food. His farm is located between Camarillo and Lompoc and for a time was throwing a fall celebration of harvest and music with his friend Mike (?) Shobie. Shobiefest rocked...it was free and wonderful.

I have no idea where my brain went.....the farm is located between Ojai and Carpinteria. (The distance between Camarillo and Lompoc is like 100 miles). lol

ugh.
here is the web site

http://www.sbfarmersmarket.org/index.htm